X-rays showed nails in the stomach of the dog, named Missy.
An Alabama mail carrier who came to her route bearing gifts for at least one neighborhood dog had some seriously gruesome intentions, according to police.
Susanna Burhans was arrested this week on animal cruelty charges after a Madison County resident told cops he found a meatball filled with nails beside his mailbox in the town of New Hope.
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Fearing the worst for Missy, owner Ed Glover took the pooch to the veterinarian where he says an x-ray clearly showed nails in her abdomen.
Glover believes the U.S. Postal Service employee fed Missy the meatballs and police agree.
Madison County Sheriff's deputies charged Burhans, who was Glover's mail carrier, with aggravated animal cruelty on Thursday.
The 47-year-old has since been released from the Madison County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
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Glover told WHNT he's happy Burhans was charged so no other pets can be harmed. He hopes she does not return to her job as a mail carrier.
The U.S. Postal Service said in a statement that Burhans, a veteran letter carrier is "currently in a non-duty status with the USPS."
"This type of alleged behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated," the statement said.
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