Perkins man acquitted of animal cruelty

(Stillwater-AP) -- A Perkins man has been acquitted of animal cruelty.<br/><br/>Thomas Louis Verner was arrested in July after a neighbor reported Verner's bulldog appeared in her front yard and was

Wednesday, June 23rd 2004, 5:48 am

By: News On 6

(Stillwater-AP) -- A Perkins man has been acquitted of animal cruelty.

Thomas Louis Verner was arrested in July after a neighbor reported Verner's bulldog appeared in her front yard and was bleeding.

A veterinarian testified last year that the dog "had rotting tissue on his neck," which was badly infected and had maggots.

Verner was accused of tying a rope around the dog's neck so tightly that it grew into the dog's skin. The neighbor said last year that the rope had been on the dog for a long time.

Verner said at the time he tied up the dog to stop it from getting loose.

The dog has been in the custody of the Perkins' animal control office. Perkins Police Chief Robert Williams says the dog is "in excellent health."

Prosecutor Tom Lee says the dog will eventually be put up for adoption.