A Gainesville man is behind bars tonight after officers arrested him on animal abuse charges.

Officers say 26-year-old Melvin Shackelford's Great Dane was in such an emaciated state that all of its ribs, and rear tail and leg bones were clearly visible. A vet examined the rescued dog and says the animal was 50 to 60 pounds underweight, and the only cause is due to lack of food.

Shackelford is in the Alachua County jail on no bond.

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