A neglected puppy removed from the home of McKenna Belcher-Cawley and Everette Cawley on the day they were arrested, has been placed in a new home and is expected to make a full recovery.
Charles Lokey, director of the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center said the couple signed an owner surrender form on the puppy when they were arrested Tuesday.
The puppy is a shepherd/husky mix and is only about four or five months old, Lokey said.
Belcher-Cawley and Cawley were arrested on battery charges after their 3-year-old daughter was airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital Tuesday with severe external and internal injuries due to suspected abuse. She died later that day.
Belcher-Cawler has been charged with capital-murder and second-degree domestic battery. Cawley has been charged with two counts of permitting the abuse of a minor.
A 2-year-old boy and a 2-month old girl were also taken from the home.
Lokey said there were signs the puppy has been abused as
well.
"It had been traumatized and was a little skinny," he said. "The day they were arrested, it was in a cage with no food or water. We took it and did an assessment on it. At first it was scared, but we got it playing and it started coming out of its shell," he said.
The puppy has already found a home with a family with children and is expected to make a full recovery, Lokey said.