A north Alabama mail carrier could go to prison for up to 10 years if convicted of feeding a dog meat balls that contained nails.

Susanna Burhans

U.S. Postal Service worker Susanna Dawn Burhans, 47, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class C felony. She was arrested today and released from the Madison County Jail after posting $2,500 bail.

Burhans was arrested after a joint investigation by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Postal Service. The investigation determined she fed the meatballs with nails to at least one dog in the Woody Circle area of the New Hope community, said sheriff's Capt. Mike Salomonsky.

The investigation began with a complaint nearly two weeks ago, Salomonsky said.

"We gathered intelligence from the Postal Service and put everything together," the captain said. "Right now, we know for sure there's one dog. But there's another neighbor that had a complaint, so there might be two or more."

A Postal Service spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Additional details about the allegations weren't immediately available. Court records haven't yet been released with details about attorneys or court dates.

Anyone who suspects another animal may have been affected should call the Sheriff's Office at 256-722-7181.