A Missouri girl who starved her pet canine, sure her legs, after which tried to bury her alive is being charged with animal abuse.

The 19-year-old, Breawna Austin, tied the canine's legs with zip ties and tried to bury her close to the Juden Creek Conservation Space in Cape Girardeau, Fox 5 Vegas reported.

The lab combine referred to as Pepper was discovered on the space on March 20, emaciated and with the zip ties nonetheless binding her legs, a possible trigger assertion from Cape Girardeau police division mentioned.

Wounds brought on by the zip ties lower so deep that bone or connective tissue may very well be seen. The canine solely weighed just below 30 kilos, lower than half the load of a wholesome canine, which could be as much as 80 kilos.

After Pepper was discovered, she was introduced into animal shelter Southeast Missouri Pets, who reported the case to the police division.

Unusually, this isn't the primary time Pepper has been taken to Southeast Missouri Pets. In response to the police assertion, the canine was first introduced into the shelter by animal management on February 18 this yr.

Later that very same day, Austin got here into declare the canine as her personal. She needed to present workers on the shelter her ID in an effort to take the canine dwelling, the assertion mentioned. Austin informed the police on that day, the canine had run away from her whereas on a stroll.

When the animal shelter first took Pepper in, she weighed 47 kilos, which means since Austin claimed the canine she has misplaced simply over 17 kilos in weight.

In response to the possible trigger assertion, Austin had informed an worker on the animal shelter that Pepper had handed on February 19.

"Austin then said she took Pepper dwelling and Pepper fell asleep with out consuming very a lot. Austin said she wakened Saturday, February 19, 2022 to seek out Pepper died. Austin said mentioned she took Pepper out to a pond close to Cape Rock and buried her," the police assertion mentioned.

"Austin was 100% optimistic Pepper was lifeless when she was buried. Austin denied understanding something concerning the zip ties."

A warrant for Austin's arrest issued on March 20 accuses her of torturing Pepper by burying her alive, WPSD mentioned, and court docket data present she is being charged with animal abuse on the second or subsequent offense.

Tracy Poston, government director for Southeast Missouri Pets informed Fox 5 Vegas that Pepper had been "surprisingly, tremendous resilient."

"She's been very trusting...Like she is aware of we're right here to assist right here. After being handled so badly, generally they're scared and she or he's been actually, 'I get, you guys are right here to assist," Poston mentioned.

Cape Girardeau Metropolis Jail is at the moment holding Austin.

Injured dog
A inventory picture reveals a labrador with an injured leg. A canine referred to as Pepper had critical wounds from zip ties which had been tied round its legs. ilona75/Getty Pictures