Arrest made in case of dog found with muzzle taped shut

WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.

Show Caption Hide Caption Man arrested after dog found with snout taped shut A puppy was found with her snout taped tightly shut. She's being treated by the Charleston Animal Society while North Charleston Police have a man in custody in connection. Patrick Jones (@Patrick_E_Jones) has the rest.

CHARLESTON - Police in North Charleston, S.C., have arrested a suspect in a dog abuse case that's made headlines around the country.

William Leonard Dodson, 41, was taken into custody and charged with ill treatment of animals and torture, The Charleston Post & Courier reported. He is expected to be in court today.

Last week, Caitlyn, a 15-month-old Chocolate Staffie mix, was found with electrical tape around her muzzle. The tape cut off the blood flow to that part of the dog's body, leading to damage to tissue on its muzzle and inside its mouth.

Meanwhile, Charleston Animal Society officials say the dog is doing a little better, and has graduated from receiving intravenous fluids and antibiotics to having normal food and oral medications.

The dog also is getting hyperbaric treatments to improve the health of the damaged tissue and cold laser therapy to promote healing. Caitlyn also had surgery on its lip, but so far, no procedure has been scheduled for its tongue.

Her story was picked up by local and national news sites around the country. Former South Carolina Gamecocks star Connor Shaw, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns, said he would personally donate to the reward money for tips leading to an arrest.