Wendy Pena faces a charge of inflicting serious harm or death to a dog, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

The incident came to light when a Good Samaritan flagged Pena down and told her that a dog was tied to her vehicle. Pena stopped and got out, authorities said. The Good Samaritan reported that Pena appeared remorseful but said she could not take the dog to a veterinarian because she needed to pick up her children. The Good Samaritan then took the dog to a vet.

According to the sheriff's office, the dog suffered multiple deep, open wounds and severe trauma to its paws and shoulder. Because of the extent of the injuries, the veterinarian recommended euthanasia as the most humane course of action. It is unknown whether the dog was euthanized.

Sheriff H.D. "Gator" DeLoach condemned the incident in a statement.

"Dog ownership comes with a series of responsibilities for the care of an animal," DeLoach said. "I cannot imagine the horror this poor animal felt as its body scraped the roadway and it had no way to escape the torture being inflicted. The owner made a choice to tie the dog to a vehicle that could be moved instead of properly securing the dog somewhere safer. Forgetting you have a living, breathing soul attached to a vehicle when you leave because you are distracted is not an excuse. Then to leave that animal to suffer and have another person take care of your mistake is reprehensible."

Pena was booked into the Putnam County Jail and released on $10,000 bond.

The case highlights the legal consequences of animal neglect in Florida, where inflicting serious harm on a dog can result in criminal charges. The sheriff's office did not release further details about the dog's condition or the circumstances leading up to the incident.