Summerville Police charged a forty-three-year-old man with animal cruelty after a police officer found a small dog chained and without adequate food or water during subfreezing temperatures earlier this week.

According to a report from Summerville Police, an officer responded to an anonymous tip about the dog being in distress in the cold weather.  When the officer arrived at the Edmondson Street address, he found the dog, chained and with frozen food and water.  The officer contacted Chattooga County Animal Control, who came and retrieved the dog.

Police charged Joseph David Robinson with cruelty to animals in connection with the incident.

Summerville’s animal ordinance makes it illegal to tether any pet to a stationary object.  All animals are to be provided shelter,  food and water at all times.