A 27-year-old man has been accused of animal cruelty after police found his severely malnourished dog during a traffic stop.

Taunton man Devin Preeper is facing an animal cruelty charge following last month’s traffic stop in West Bridgewater.

Back on Nov. 24, a West Bridgewater police officer spotted a vehicle run a red light on North Main Street and pulled over the driver.

The cop then saw the significantly underweight dog in the vehicle. The puppy, a 9-month-old named “Sprout,” was taken to Westbridge Veterinary Referral Hospital where she received medical care.

Police in their investigation determined that the driver — Preeper — was Sprout’s owner and that the dog was severely malnourished.

“During the initial traffic stop, officers took steps to ensure the dog immediately received

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