Authorities in Pennsylvania have made an arrest in the case of Rocky, the emaciated pit bull puppy recently seized from an Erie residence.
Rocky's former owner, Angelique Miles, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty torture and a summary charge of animal cruelty, according to City of Erie Police Lt. Stan Green.
"Cruelty to animals is the primary charge," Green told The Huffington Post. "It was charged at a higher level misdemeanor."
Court records indicate Miles, who was arraigned on Saturday, is being held in the Erie County Prison on $10,000 bail.
If convicted, Miles faces fines and a maximum sentence of two years in prison. However, according to Green, the possibility of a jail sentence will depend on Miles' background.
"If she has no prior criminal history, serving prison time is not likely," he said.
Ruth Thompson-Carroll, director of the Erie-based Anna Shelter -- the organization that is caring for Rocky -- told HuffPost on Monday that Pennsylvania legislators have long-needed to revamp the state's antiquated animal cruelty laws.
"Pennsylvania animal laws are written by the Department of Agriculture, so they are geared toward farmers and are not like laws in California or New York, where the penalties are a lot stiffer," Thompson-Carroll said.
She added, "Maybe this will rally people who want to make changes in Pennsylvania."
Rocky, who the organization estimates is 6 months to 8 months old, was rescued from the basement of Miles' home on April 15, after a tipster notified the animal shelter of his condition, police said.
According to Thompson-Carroll, Rocky was "all bone weight" and "covered in sores."
"When we found him, we honestly thought he was deceased," said Thompson-Carroll. "He wasn't moving and his temperature wouldn’t register. We were shocked when we discovered he was still breathing."
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Anna Shelter 'Miracle' Dog
Since Rocky's rescue, his health has improved, he's started putting on weight and is learning to trust people.
"He's doing great," said Thompson-Carroll. "He's warming up to people and figuring out how to be a dog. He's sweet and really loving."
Rocky, who is expected to need about a month of special care, will be available for adoption once he has fully recovered.
"Once we get him to that point, we'll take applications and try to get the best fit for him," Thompson-Carroll said.
The Anna Shelter, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is asking for the public’s help in defraying the cost of Rocky's care. Donations can be made by visiting theannashelter.com.
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