AUBURN — A Willow Street man was jailed Tuesday, accused of keeping a dog in a closet where it starved and fell ill.

Charles Palmer, 30, of 15 Willow St., was arrested on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony. He was being held Tuesday at the Androscoggin County Jail on $300 cash bail.

Police said Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout was sent to the area to investigate after receiving reports that there was a sick dog inside the house that was not being properly cared for.

Strout went to Willow Street on Monday and spoke with neighbors. One of the neighbors had the dog, which Strout described as a lab-shepherd mix.

“The dog was barely alive,” said Deputy Chief Jason Moen of the Auburn Police Department. “He had apparently been keeping it in a closet because he didn’t know what to do with it.”

The dog was brought to Lewiston for medical treatment. However, the animal’s condition was so dire that it had to be euthanized.

According to Strout, the dog was six to eight months old and should have weighed 40 pounds. It weighed about 15 pounds.

“It was emaciated,” Strout said, “from dehydration and malnutrition.”

Palmer was arrested and taken to the county jail where he remained late in the day on Tuesday.

It was the second case investigated by Strout in recent weeks that involved the death of a house pet.

In Lewiston, Nijie Bradley, 22, was charged with criminal cruelty to animals, accused of killing a cat by hurling it against a wall and then to the pavement.

That incident happened at Pleasantview Acres, police said. Bradley had been arguing with his girlfriend. In a rage, he threw the cat with enough force to cause fatal injuries.

Strout investigated that case, as well, and issued Bradley a summons.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com