Oxford police sent the dog’s remains to the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center to determine the cause of death.
“Preliminary necropsy results indicate the dog was severely dehydrated and starved,” according to police.
During the investigation, Hangming Zhang, 22, of Oxford, was revealed to be the caretaker of the dog and kept it in an unoccupied apartment. Police said he last cared for the dog on Oct. 13 but never returned.
Zhang was arrested on Tuesday on a single charge of prohibitions concerning companion animals for knowingly causing serious harm to the dog.
Zhang attended Miami University in Oxford from 2015 to 2018, and then re-enrolled in 2019 before leaving again on Nov. 19, according to school records.
Zhang had a video arraignment this morning in Area I Court in Oxford, according to the clerk of courts office. He was given an own recognizance bond and scheduled to be back in Area I Court at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to the court.
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