Fairfield Man Arrested On Charges Of Cruelty To Animals

James L. Wiggins, 43, of Fairfield was arrested on Sunday on a charge of cruelty to animals after several people reported that he was dragging his dog, Bella, along Norridgewock Road.Fairfield Police Chief Tom Gould said that the police received at least a half dozen calls Sunday afternoon about an apparently drunk man dragging a dog that appeared to be severely injured along Norridgewock Road.

Onlookers followed a car that Wiggins and Bella got into and eventually arrived at a home in Norridgewock and that when police arrived, they poured water on the dog to try and revive it.

The dog had signs of heat exhaustion, including dehydration and hyperthermia, as well as scrapes on its belly and paws. When police found Bella, she was panting and couldn't lift her head.

Bella was taken to Kennebec Veterinary Services and there is no information on Bella's condition.

Wiggins was taken to Somerset County Jail, where he was later released on bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 11. Cruelty to animals is a class D crime and is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and a year in jail.