A 50-year-old Jacksonville man faces animal cruelty charges after a pit bull was beaten with a pipe because she ate a pet bird, authorities said.

Richard Dennis Poehler was arrested Tuesday, three weeks after the dog was found abandoned and wounded.

The dog is recovering from a shattered skull at the Jacksonville Humane Society.

The Florida Times-Union reports the dog — named Lizzy Borden — belongs to 38-year-old Melissa Floyd, who lived with Poehler and his girlfriend. She says she left Lizzy on Oct. 4 with the understanding that the girlfriend would watch her. When she called to check on the dog, she heard Poehler yelling that he was going to shoot the dog because it ate his bird.

Sheriff's officials say Lizzy was abandoned on a road.