By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — A Norristown couple is facing animal cruelty charges after prosecutors say they burned their blue-nose pit bull puppy and then waited too long to get the animal some care.

Authorities say Charles Charen and Erica Cannella brought four-month-old “Bella” to the SPCA a week after she suffered her injuries. They told investigators the dog injured itself and the wounds got worse because it was scratching and licking.

Montgomery County prosecutor Abby Silverman says veterinarians looked at the dog and determined that it had been burned — likely with hot water — over thirty percent of its body.

“This is completely unacceptable behavior, and you can’t treat an animal that way,” Silverman said today.  “You can’t hurt them that way and then not do anything about it.”

Charen and Canella are facing misdemeanor and summary animal cruelty charges, along with conspiracy. They have already forfeited the dog, which continues to recover.

Silverman says the dog will be adopted once the court case comes to an end.