Arkansas: Tommy Stratton, 31, and Lisa Burnett, 28, charged with cruelty after dumping their sick dog at shelter

ARKANSAS -- Two people have been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals on Monday, after an Alexander Police detective responded to a complaint that a dog was in need of medical attention.

According to a press release KATV obtained, Tommy W. Stratton, 31, and Lisa Marie Burnett, 28, both of Bryant, were taken into custody on Monday after warrants were issued for their arrest.

Police say the two neglected their dog and surrendered it to the Bryant Animal Control to conceal the dog's maltreatment.

"Few weeks ago, we had a gentleman call and say that he had located a stray dog here in Bryant that looked like it had been bitten by a snake of some sort, he brought the dog into us and some of the information that he was giving us was inconsistent, it just didn't seem to make sense," said Tricia Power, Bryant Animal Control Director.

On July 9, according to a detective, the dog was found tied to a tree next to an RV that was parked in a vacant lot in the 16000 block of Iris Cove.

The pit bull, named Tank, had a severe infection that deformed its head. Police said the animal's head was swollen three times its normal size, and it appeared to be in "extreme pain."

"The veterinarian suspects that he has a blocked salivary gland on the left side, he's pretty swollen, but he's on antibiotics, he's being treated, he's supposed to go back to the vet next week to see if he needs to have surgery on that gland," said Power.

On that day police instructed to Stratton and Burnett, who were living in the RV, to take the dog to a vet and that they would be back in three days to make sure the dog was being cared for. When police attempted to follow up, they had reportedly disappeared with the dog.

Following an investigation, police tell KATV, they located the dog at the Bryant Animal Control shelter, and that the pair had abandoned the dog without providing it medical attention.

Animal control officers told police the dog had suffered the condition for a long period of time, which lead to police seeking arrest warrants.

A judge did not set a bond, but instead released Stratton and Burnett from the Saline County Jail on Tuesday afternoon according to jail officials. Both are scheduled to appear in court on September 12.

(KATV - July 27, 2016)