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Aaron Laws of Atlanta was sentenced March 23 by State Court Judge Alvin Wong to one year in prison on two counts of animal cruelty. Laws was found guilty of locking his female pit bull in a closet and leaving her there to die, according to the solicitor general’s office.

The dog’s remains were discovered during an eviction at a rental property in Clarkston where Laws had been living in 2010.  The decomposing animal, which had been dead at least a week, was found inside a living room closet, surrounded by empty Tupperware containers and its own fecal matter, officials said. Inside the closet, the carpet had been dug up by the animal in an attempt to escape and the door was covered in deep claw marks. Outside the closet, a towel was found on the floor in an attempt to mask the odor of the decaying animal.  Lysol cans were also found nearby.

“This horrific case demonstrates how vulnerable animals are to thoughtless, careless owners,” said Solicitor General Sherry Boston. “This poor animal suffered needlessly.  Sadly, any number of animal rescue groups could have found this vulnerable dog a good, loving home.”