A Texas man is facing animal cruelty charges after allegedly dragging a donkey behind his SUV then leaving the injured animal unattended along a roadside.

Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Capt. Mark Seals said that the incident occurred on Oct. 25 after a neighbor informed the donkey’s owner that the animal had been found wandering nearby. The owner’s friend offered to get the donkey and walk it back home when Marc Saunders allegedly volunteered to bring the donkey back by using a rope to tether the animal to the trailer hitch at the back of his vehicle, Seals said.

According to police reports, the donkey sustained severe injuries to its feet and legs after it fell to the pavement when Saunders allegedly drove too fast for the animal to keep pace. After allegedly dragging the fallen animal several feet, Saunders alleged stopped the vehicle, untied the rope connecting the animal to his vehicle and drove away the reports said. The donkey is receiving veterinary treatment for its injuries.

Saunders was unavailable for comment