The dog, named “Jimmy” by workers at the animal hospital to which he was taken, is getting better, Marshak reported.

On Thursday, Paul Garcia, 39, of Barnhart was charged with felony animal abuse and armed criminal action. Authorities say Garcia wrapped electrical and duct tape around the dog’s mouth and legs before dumping it. Garcia was in custody Thursday with bail set at $50,000.

The key to making the arrest came when the sheriff’s deputy who found Jimmy decided to keep the electrical tape, said Jefferson County sheriff’s office spokesman Grant Bissell.

Investigators were then able to freeze the tape and find fingerprints.

Garcia came up as a match in a database, Bissell said.

Garcia was not the dog’s owner, and the sheriff’s office is still searching for the owner, Bissell said.