Charges pending against owner of frozen dog

Pikeville, N.C. — Wayne County authorities said Wednesday that the owner of a dog found frozen to death on Monday has been identified and that criminal charges are pending.

Animal Control officers were responding to a phone call when they found the brown female pitbull mix inside an igloo-shaped doghouse next to Airport Road in Pikeville, authorities said.

Authorities couldn't find a rabies tag or microchip on the dog to identify the owner, but Joseph Sauls, chief animal control officer, said tips from the public provided a break in the case.