Late last month, a German Shepherd named Buddy was dragged to death at the Colorado National Monument. Steven Clay Romero, 37, of Grand Junction. was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

Romero and his sister are alleged to have stolen the dog – Buddy, a German shepherd-blue heeler mix – from his home in Delta and tied to the back of a pickup truck. Tracks in the snow at the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction clearly showed how the adult male German Shepherd mix was forced to run up one of the steepest hills at the monument. During the three-mile ordeal, Buddy ran on about 2 inches of snow, around multiple switchbacks and sharp curves that gained more than 1,000 feet in elevation before he collapsed, unable to keep up; the dog finally died and his lifeless body was dragged alongside the pickup.

“Demand Justice for Buddy” is spreading the word online to ensure that Romero will get the maximum penalty for his crime: three years in federal prison and a fine of $100,000, plus a year of mandatory parole. As of this posting, the Facebook group has more than 95,000 members.

There is an online petition that was scheduled to be delivered to the prosecuting attorney in Grand Junction, CO. on Thursday, Jan.7th at 3pm. and will be delivered again before the trial. You can sign the petition online.

In Memory of Buddy is another group formed to honor Buddy. The group encourages people to remember Buddy by donating your time to local shelters, or foster or adopt a rescue dog.