From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TUSCALOOSA — The discovery of a dead dog in a woman’s apartment led to a felony animal cruelty charge in Tuscaloosa.
Ryanne Gilbert, a 21-year-old from Virginia, was charged with first-degree cruelty to a dog or cat on Friday, according to The Tuscaloosa News. She was held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail but later released on a $15,000 bond.
The Tuscaloosa News said that a bad smell led to complaints and the discovery of the decomposing animal.
A live cat and dog were also found locked Gilbert’s apartment. The animals were delivered to the Metro Animal Shelter for care, said The Tuscaloosa News.
Police records said the dog had been deprived of food and water for a prolonged period and that animal control believed the animal to have been dead for three or four days before it was discovered.
According to The Tuscaloosa News, Gilbert has been evicted from the apartment.