3 Charged In Connection With Abusing Matted Dog Elvira, Covered In Feces With Missing Paw [PHOTO]

MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - The co-owners of a dog found suffering in a Clinton Township home will all face charges.

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith today charged Christopher Penn, 36, Sonja Sturdivant, 49, and Demico Knight, Jr., 21, of Clinton Township, with one count each of torturing an animal, which is a four year felony.

All three shared legal responsibility for the care and protection of Elvira, the Shih Tzu mix rescued on Halloween.

The name was given to her by the veterinary workers that provided emergency care to the abused dog.

Workers say the dog had mats, saturated with dirt and feces, so thick they almost completely covered her face.

"We're kind of calling it the dog version of Cinderella," says Smith. "There was another dog in the house that lived upstairs, that was taken on daily walks, that was treated the way any other dog should be treated. But for some reason - this sweet little dog was left in the basement in its own filth, never taken outside and hardly fed at all and left to wither away."

Elvira is blind in one eye, missing a front foot and was found with broken bones in her back legs -- workers say that she had a deep skin ulceration due to lack of care.

"One look at this poor creature will break your heart, and fill you with anger at the individuals who allowed this to take place," Smith said.

A day and time for the arraignment in 41B District Court in Clinton Township has not been set.