The animal was found, unable to walk or eat, at the Woodland Mobile Home Park last week and had to be put down.

SKOWHEGAN, Maine (AP) _ Authorities are trying to determine the owner of a dog that was found so badly neglected in Skowhegan last week that it had be put down.

Somerset Animal Shelter manager Hattie Spaulding says the owner could face cruelty charges.

Spaulding tells the Morning Sentinel  the dog was taken to the shelter by Skowhegan police Officer Josh King on Thursday morning. The animal was found, unable to walk, at the Woodland Mobile Home Park. She says the small female poodle was covered in her own waste and could not eat.

A shelter worker took the dog to a veterinarian who concluded the animal suffered from chronic neglect, flea infestation and paralysis.

Anyone with information about the dog is urged to call police.