MOULTRIE — A Moultrie woman was charged after a dog was allegedly found in bad shape chained up in her yard Wednesday evening.

Tabitha Zamora, 32, of 620 Fifth St. S.E., was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals, a three or more dogs on the premises violation and three counts of vaccination required.

A Moultrie police officer was on patrol when he spotted a dog tied to a fence at a house on Fifth Street Southeast about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday. The dog appeared to be very malnourished, and the officer stopped and spoke with the house occupant, identified as Zamora.

The officer went to the rear of the house and found the dog had a piece of wire wrapped around its neck. The wire had become imbedded in his neck and hooked to a chain, and it was causing the dog pain. Fleas, flies and maggots were found crawling all over the wound.

Zamora told the officer the dog had belonged to her sister and she was bringing it back to health. She allegedly stated she had kept the dog for two weeks but had never noticed the wire around its neck. The Humane Society was called to the scene and took the dog, which was later euthanized.

Two other dogs were found at the house, and they allegedly had not had their rabies vaccinations updated. They were also taken by the Humane Society, and Zamora was placed under arrest and taken to Colquitt County Jail.