Clinton, OK – An Alabama man faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Custer County after authorities say he abandoned a small, severely neglected dog outside a Clinton grocery store in late September.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Custer County District Court, 59-year-old Daniel Matthew Paullin, of Leeds, Alabama, is charged with felony cruelty to animals and misdemeanor abandonment of a domestic animal on a road. Prosecutors allege Paullin left a small brown Chihuahua mix in a shopping cart in Clinton on September 25, 2025.
Authorities said a store manager reported finding the dog wrapped in black sweatpants inside a cart near the entrance. The dog, an older male with only a few teeth remaining, suffered from severe skin problems, hair loss, and untreated infections. The animal was later examined by a veterinarian who determined it had a serious yeast and bacterial infection but did not have mange. The dog was treated and placed at a local boarding facility.
Surveillance footage showed a bald white male with a goatee arriving around 6:30 a.m., carrying a small dog. The man sat near the store briefly, placed the animal in a shopping cart, pushed it back into a row of carts, and walked away.
Weeks later, Paullin reportedly contacted police to report a different missing dog named “Tara.” Investigators reviewing social media found posts by Paullin discussing two dogs—Tara and a smaller dog named “Rusty.” In comments, Paullin described Rusty as aggressive and difficult, writing that he “loved Tara” but “not even for a minute” missed Rusty. Investigators noted the smaller dog matched the one found abandoned.
When questioned, Paullin admitted leaving the dog, claiming he placed it in the cart “so it could not climb out and run” while waiting for someone to pick it up. He was reportedly unable to provide a name or number for that person.
Formal charges were filed November 3 in Custer County District Court. If convicted, Paullin faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on the felony count and up to one year in jail and a $500 fine on the misdemeanor count.
The investigation was handled by the Clinton Police Department.
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