PHOENIX, AZ (WCMH) — Spur the cattle dog still walks with a limp, but it could have been a lot worse after a man allegedly hung the dog upside down by his legs.

According to KPHO, Martin Benavidez has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after neighbors found 6-month-old Spur, hanging upside down inside a van, June 16.

“To see this dog actually hanging upside down that that neighbor had to see is just traumatizing and nobody wants to see that, we’re glad that she called us, and it probably saved the dog’s life,” says Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

Benavidez denies harming the animal and says he was only training the dog.

“That’s not training, that dog was being tortured,” Babeu told KPHO.

Animal Control Officer Riksta Dickerson called it the worst case of abuse she’s ever seen. But Dickerson says Spur won’t go up for adoption; she’s going to keep him herself.

“Oh he’s very cute and very sweet, loves everybody and everything.”