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Muzzled pit bull dies while tied up outside
By ANDREA ZIMMERMANN
STAFF WRITER

Published Thursday, June 22, 2006

The owner of a pit bull was arrested Wednesday after the dog died while muzzled and tied up on a third-floor apartment balcony in the 1600 block of Seven Pines Road, police said.

Jared A. Lieb, 20, who lives at the apartment complex, could face a charge of aggravated animal cruelty.

Police said the dog was left on the balcony without water, but the muzzle was so tight it would not have mattered anyway.

At about 1 p.m., a manager of the apartment complex told an off-duty police officer about the pit bull, which reportedly was foaming at the mouth and having difficulty breathing.

Both the manager and officer went to the apartment and knocked several times but got no answer. When the manager opened the door, there were two other people inside, police said. Lieb arrived at the apartment later, police said.

By the time the manager and the officer reached the dog, it was dead.

Sangamon County Animal Control personnel also were summoned to the scene.

The outside temperature at the time was near 90, and police said the dog's temperature was at least 110 degrees.

It was unclear how long the dog had been tied up on the balcony.