Man arrested for animal cruelty

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - The owner of a dog found tethered and severely emaciated outside of a Portsmouth home last month has been arrested for animal cruelty.

According to Jan Clark with the Portsmouth Police Department, animal control officers were called to the 600 block of Virginia Avenue on the morning of Aug. 7, conducing a follow-up to two complaints of pit bulls loose in the neighborhood. The officers found two adult dogs and two puppies unattended.

During that call, they saw a dog that appeared to be dead at a home next door to the one they had initially responded to. The dog was tethered, covered in flies and sores, severely underfed and unable to stand, but alive.

The black Labrador mix "Hope" was taken to a hospital for treatment and is still in the care of the Portsmouth Humane Society.

Louis Madison Holloway, Jr., 38, of the 800 block of Jousting Court in Chesapeake has been charged with animal cruelty.

Portsmouth City Council was set to address a dog tethering ordinance at a meeting Tuesday, but the issue was removed from the agenda and will be spoken to during the next meeting.