Owner charged after dog found hanging

HINSDALE, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a case News 4 told you about in August.

John Bird, 44, from Olean, is charged with animal cruelty. Police say he let his brown and black terrier go free on a back road. Police say Bird didn't provide the dog with necessary food and water.

  >>  You can see John Bird in WIVB.com's mug shot photo gallery

Later, Bird’s dog was found hanging by its leash from a bridge on Underwood Road in Hinsdale. There is still no explanation on how the dog ended up tied to the guardrail.

Back in August, Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Det. Ronald Lott said, "The leash was wrapped around a post to the guardrail. It definitely had to be tied there by a person. It wasn't a case of it being wrapped around. It was looped through."

At the time of the incident, authorities said they hadn't identified the dog's owner because the dog didn't have any tags on.

Bird is due in court later this month.