A former supervisor at the SPCA of Texas, accused of starving a puppy to death, is scheduled to make her first court appearance Wednesday, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Alicia Marie Martin, 23, was fired after a grand jury indicted her on a felony charge of animal cruelty last month. If convicted, she faces up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Martin, who is a divorced mother of a 2-year-old girl, adopted the German shepherd mix puppy from the Collin County Animal Shelter in December, according to police.
Authorities found the emaciated puppy inside a dark laundry closet in Martin's apartment on March 18 after her neighbors complained about a strong stench. The puppy was lying in a puddle of water and feces inside a small crate.
Martin told police that the dog had health problems and she could not afford to take him to a veterinarian. She said she was too embarrassed to get help from her employer.
Martin's supervisor at the SPCA told police she doesn't understand how Martin could have allowed this to happen, the Dallas Morning News reported.
