Jay, the kid
dragged it -curled up on its' side- a good distance and the mother did not intervene. That is not OK. If you want to train a cat to a wear a harness and walk on a leash, fine. But you don't do that by tying it up in a hairband and dragging it along the sidewalk.
Pleased to report that Midnight was not dead on the side of the freeway when I drove by.