A neglected dog was left in a vacant Greenfield apartment with no food, water or heat for as many as nine days, according to a report.

The dog was removed from an apartment building in the 3900 block of West Howard Avenue on Jan. 2, when the property manager notified police that a dog had been left behind by the tenant. According to the property manager, Kim Queen, the property was foreclosed upon and he advised the tenant, a 31-year-old Greenfield woman, she had to move out by Christmas.

Queen checked the residence Dec. 26, and found the windows and doors locked. The unit appeared to be vacated, but he did hear a dog barking inside. Queen returned to the apartment Jan. 2, and still heard the dog barking but no evidence that the tenant had returned to the apartment. When Queen entered the unit, the thermostat read approximately 48 degrees. He later told police he believed the dog had been eating its own feces.

The dog, a 9-month-old Pit Bull, was taken to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. Two night's later, the dog's owner contacted Greenfield Police and requested her dog, and according to MADACC Executive Director David Flagler, the dog was released to the owner Jan. 5, after Greenfield police lifted a hold on the animal. "Apparently they (the owner and police) had a good (conversation) and hopefully we now have a responsible owner taking care of that dog," Flagler said.

Greenfield police issued the owner a citation for cruelty to animals.