Police Investigating After Photo Of Dog Riding On Tow Truck Sparks Outrage

WALTHAM (CBS) – A photo of a dog on a moving tow truck flatbed has sparked outrage on social media, and a police investigation is underway.

"My blood pressure went through the roof!"

Michael Gerry, an animal lover himself, is talking about the moment he was driving on 128 and looked over to see something he couldn't believe.

"I look over, and I see this - what looked like a stuffed animal - and I got up a little closer and really got a good look at it and it was a dog," he said.

Owner to Molly, his 8-year-old English Bull Terrier, he knew this wasn't right.

"I would never even think of it never. She's my baby," he said.

Frantic, he tried to get the drivers attention before calling the police.

The driver pulled off at Route 16.

Gerry lost him but knew he had to get the word out.

"I posted it on Facebook for my buddies to just kind of put it out there and it went unreal... it went ballistic," he said.

People on Facebook were outraged.

The truck belongs to Ramsay's Towing. Animal lovers flooded the Waltham company's Facebook page with complaints.

Those who worked there told WBZ the driver is known to take his dog to work sometimes and it's usually fine, but with this tow, the people needed a ride and that's how the dog ended up in the back.

Police were seen leaving the owner of Ramsay's home this afternoon. Ramsay did not come to the door for WBZ. However, the company posted on its Facebook page, "We have just been made aware of the photo that is circulating on Facebook. We do not support the driver's actions and he was terminated immediately."

"We have just been made aware of the photo that is circulating on Facebook," Ramsay's Towing said in a Facebook post. "We do not support the drivers actions and he was terminated immediately."

Both state police and the animal rescue league are investigating.

"We are trying to find out how many times that was done so we know of two. That's been a violation of the law for years," Lieutenant Alan Borgal, director of Law Enforcement, said. Borgel said the dog is back with its owner and is said to be fine.

Gerry said he hopes it speaks for the animals who can't speak for themselves.

"The only reason I'm doing this - somebody needs to be a voice for the animal so that's what I'm doing because they don't have a voice. It's just not right, plain and simple," he explained. "There was enough slack on that leash that that dog could have easily fallen off the side and been caught up in the tire and he would have never known.

"An animal is part of your family. He deserves more than just losing his job," Gerry added.