Animal Cruelty or Just Stupidity?

On the way to work today I saw one of the dumbest things I think I have ever seen a dog owner do…EVER! This morning the temperature was a balmy 3 degrees (F) outside and I am sure that this individual usually takes this dog out for a run on most mornings. I drive past the county fairgrounds when I take Butch over to Dad’s house for a visit with Buttons and Bosco a couple times each week and to check to see how Dad is doing. As I am sitting at the traffic light waiting for it to turn green I am facing the fairgrounds. I see a little blue 4 wheel drive vehicle with a large Dalmation tied with a 5 foot leash to the rear view mirror on the driver’s side. As I am looking at this situation puzzled as to why the dog is tied to the mirror the vehicle actually starts to move forward and the dog starts to run along side, then the dog starts to gain speed and it actually looked as if the dog was pulling the vehicle up the slight SNOW COVERED incline. There are so many things wrong with this on so many levels that I don’t even know where to begin. The level of stupidity of some people never ceases to amaze me. First of all no one including the dog should be outside in this weather for any reason other than for the dog to relieve itself. The temperature was obviously why this individual was in the warm car while letting the dog run uphill. Second running up an incline on a slippery snow covered surface it would take nothing for that dog to step in a hidden hole in the road, slip and be pulled under the front wheel of that car. I can hear it’s legs being crushed just thinking about it. I couldn’t help myself so I drove into the fairgrounds in my truck and pulled up next to this individual. I rolled down the window and said “You have got to absolutely be kidding me, I didn’t just see you run that dog up this hill tied to your car in this weather.” The reply I got was “Yes, he just loves to run, and it’s too cold out side for me to run with him!” I said “Oh really, If it’s too cold for you then why don’t you think it is too cold for the dog and what are you going to do when he slips and falls under your front wheel and you crush him to death?” This person then looked past me at Butch standing with his front paws on the arm rest looking out at the other dog, “Oh, I’m real careful” was the answer. I then said “Well, I’ll tell you what, I drive past here all the time, I have your plate number, if I see this dog tied to this car again I am going to report you to the police, the Humane Society, and the ASPCA and well see what they think. In the future I suggest you get off your a** and run your dog along side of you. If it’s too cold for you it’s probably too cold for the dog also, have a nice day!” With this I left the individual behind. I could see in my rear view mirror that the dog was being untied and put back in the vehicle. I will not get into gender or age here, stupid is stupid no matter who it is. So…what do you think, did I over step my bounds here? What would you have done in this situation?