WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. —

A Taunton man faces a felony charge after a severely malnourished dog was found in his car during a recent traffic stop in West Bridgewater , Massachusetts.

Devin Preeper, 27, was charged with one count of animal cruelty. He will be arraigned in Brockton District Court on Dec. 23.

According to West Bridgewater police, Preeper was pulled over for running a red light on North Main Street on Nov. 24, around 11:49 a.m.

The officer conducting the stop noticed a significantly underweight dog in Preeper's car.

The dog, a 9-month-old puppy named Sprout, was taken to Westbridge Veterinary Referral Hospital for treatment.

Investigators determined Sprout was severely malnourished and that Preeper was her owner.

Following a weekslong investigation, which included gat

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