A Zelienople man was accused of animal neglect after his dog was found malnourished and stuck to the floor in its own feces before its death earlier this month.

Micah E. Zeigler, 41, was charged Tuesday, May 28, with felony aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanors neglect and cruelty to animals after police said he left the dog alone for a long period of time when it required medical care.

Zelienople police said they were dispatched May 9 to a South Oliver Avenue apartment for reports of the malnourished dog. A woman who was interviewed said she received word from one of Zeigler’s family members that the dog may need to be checked on.

When the woman went to check on the dog, she found it choking and barely able to breathe, police said. There was no food or water available for the dog and vomit covered the floor of every room, documents showed. In addition, police said there were needles, clothes and cans of food on the floor.

Police said the woman who made the report was traumatized by “the degree and neglect of the suffering the dog had experienced inside.”

Officers said they attempted to contact Zeigler, who was reportedly hospitalized, but were unsuccessful. Just before police were going to transport the dog to a 24/7 veterinary care center, the dog stopped breathing, documents showed.

Police said the dog was removed from the residence to undergo a necropsy.

According to documents, the animal was abandoned in the apartment while needing veterinary care necessary for its survival.

Zeigler’s preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.