Tortured puppy leads to arrests

Two teenagers are facing aggravated animal cruelty charges after Dresden Police officers discovered a puppy had allegedly been tortured to death.
According to an affidavit, the Dresden Police Department was contacted around 7:45 p.m. May 15 when a young man and his father went to pick up a dog that was apparently foaming at the mouth and limping.
DPD Chief Randal Walker said an approximately four-month-old St. Bernard puppy was given to 18-year-old Preston Odle of Evergreen Street in Dresden. Odle claimed he didn’t want the dog and offered the puppy to a friend. When the friend came back with his father to pick up the animal, they noticed the dog was foaming at the mouth, limping and had a cut on his back.
Walker said Odle and 19-year-old Levi Evans of Delmar Street in Greenfield admitted to assaulting the puppy. The chief said the animal had been kicked and suffered broken ribs. The two teenagers also allegedly wired the dog’s mouth shut and wrapped its neck in wire and hung the dog. The animal also suffered a knife wound in the back.
The puppy died a few hours later as a result.
“If people know of anyone abusing an animal or even neglecting an animal, please call your local law enforcement agency. Don’t let these poor animals suffer through things like that, just call the police and let them handle it,” Walker said.
Odle and Evans face a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. They are free on bond and expected to appear in Weakley County General Sessions Court for a preliminary hearing later this week.

WCP 5.22.12