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(WHAS11) - A Louisville man is jailed, charged with torturing a family member's dog. Authorities say it may not have been the first time he's been accused of that type of behavior.

A spokeswoman at Metro Animal Control says its the first time she can remember in her 5-year history at the agency that someone's been charged with sexually abusing an animal, but the person reporting the crime says the same man may have injured another of their pets.

What we can tell you for sure is that a 1-year-old cocker spaniel mix is recovering from serious injuries while the last person left alone with her faces a felony charge.

A warning to our viewers, some of what you are about to hear is extremely disturbing and might not be appropriate for children.

When Linda Bussey and other family members returned from a birthday party Sunday, Oreo, a black-and-white cocker spaniel mix she brought home from a flea market last year, was yelping.

Thomas Bussey, 53, had been left alone in the apartment with Oreo. He is Linda Bussey's brother-in-law.

Thomas ran away after being confronted by the family, but family members later found him a short time later, tackled him and held him for police.

He's now charged with felony torture of a dog.

Oreo is recovering from her wounds at the metro animal shelter.

We were not allowed to shoot video of her, since the case is under investigation.

Police are now also looking into whether Thomas Bussey was involved in the death of a cat belonging to the same family last year after it received suspicious injuries.

If Bussey gets released from jail, he'll not be welcome back at the apartment or anywhere near the family's pets again.

Metro animal control says that Oreo must be spayed and get current on her shots before she can be released to her owners.

As for Bussey, he's scheduled to have his first court appearance Tuesday morning.