One week after the Charleston Animal Society posted a devastating photo on Facebook of a dog whose mouth was closed shut with electrical tape, South Carolina police officers arrested the man they believe is responsible for the crime.
William Leonard Dodson, 41, was taken into custody Monday and charged with ill treatment of animals and torture, according to news reports.
The 15-month-old dog, a Chocolate Staffie mix rescuers named Caitlyn, was a well-known stray in the neighborhood of Chicora-Cherokee. The seriously injured dog appeared on a resident’s doorstep with the tape firmly wrapped around her mouth and her tongue caught between her teeth.
Initially a veterinarian from the Charleston Animal Society thought part of the dog’s tongue would have to be removed. But, after some treatment, the pooch is showing signs of improvement while in the organization's care.
“Caitlyn continues to recover from her ordeal, but she is still hospitalized,” the Charleston Animal Society wrote on Facebook. “We have the greatest of hopes for this beautiful girl!”
Dodson can face up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine for the abuse, something the organization hopes for.
“We are eager for whomever committed this crime to be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law which continues to be one of the weakest in the nation,” the Charleston Animal Society also wrote.
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