WARREN A Warren man faces a misdemeanor charge after authorities said he neglected a dog that was later euthanized following an attack on an animal shelter director.

Darnell T. Hines Jr., 30, was charged Wednesday with one count of cruelty to animals in Warren Municipal Court, according to court records.

The charge stems from an investigation initiated by Jason Cooke, CEO of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. Cooke told 21 News he located the dog, named Lue, at a home on Oak Knoll Avenue while responding to a report of a wandering animal.

Cooke stated the dog was suffering from significant neck wounds consistent with an embedded prong collar. A prong collar is a training collar made of a series of metal links that connect to form a loop. Each link has blunted prongs that face inward toward the dog's neck. The Humane Society of the United States says they shouldn't be used.

According to Cooke, Hines was responsible for caring for the dog at the time of recovery. The animal previously belonged to a murder victim.

While the dog received veterinary care for neck injuries, Cooke reported that the animal later attacked him as he attempted to place it in a kennel. Cooke suffered severe bite wounds to the neck and required hospitalization.

"I knew he had gotten me, but it wasn't until I got to the emergency clinic, and they're having to do x-rays, because it's so deep, see if there's any tissue damage, how close it was to like arteries," Cooke said, "I mean, I could have been killed."

Following the incident, the dog was euthanized.

"That's something we just don't do here," he said, "It's very, very rarely, and it's not the outcome anybody wanted. I wanted the dog to recover and find a home. But something had to happen to that dog to cause him to act like that."

Cooke stated that he believes the dog’s aggression was a direct result of mistreatment.

"Dogs don't behave like that unless something's happened to them," Cooke said, "It was a heartbreaking decision to make, but it was the right decision. And I don't blame the dog."

Court records do not yet list an arraignment date for Hines.