Alicia Marie Martin's Facebook posts unfold like a typical story of young adulthood: hopes and minidramas as well as tidbits about her work at one of Texas' largest animal shelters.

Alicia Marie Martin

But her arrest report offers a different story. Police describe how in March the 23-year-old animal protection specialist left her own puppy to starve to death in a waterlogged crate in her Plano apartment.

Martin, who was fired from her position as a supervisor at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas, was indicted by a grand jury last month.

She faces a felony charge of animal cruelty that could bring up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine. Her first appearance in a Collin County district court is Wednesday.

How someone tasked with protecting animals could be accused of letting a 5-month-old puppy die in this grisly fashion remains a mystery.

Martin is divorced and lives in Allen with her 2-year-old daughter, according to court records. She declined to comment by phone and did not respond to an e-mail. Her court-appointed attorney, Stephanie Duecker, did not return a call seeking comment.

But Martin's posts on Facebook, the social-networking site, and a probable cause affidavit by Plano police portray a good-humored young woman who was squeezed by a lack of money.

Maura Davies, a spokeswoman for the SPCA of Texas, said the nonprofit group would not comment on the case or Martin's employment history, including when she was hired or what her duties were.

"This is not the norm. It's just always disturbing to hear about abuse or cruelty to animals," Davies said.

Authorities found the dog, a German shepherd mix named Bruce, in a small crate on March 18. They arrived after neighbors complained of a strong smell emanating from Martin's apartment in the 2800 block of Townbluff Drive in Plano.

The crate was in a dark closet that functioned as a laundry room and had flooded, according to the affidavit. Police say Bruce was emaciated in a puddle of water and his own feces. They described the stench as "overwhelming."

According to police, Martin adopted the puppy in December from the Collin County Animal Shelter.

In a Jan. 23 Facebook post, she talked about "playing with her puppy who is getting big." Two days later, she mentioned how she was "still not done doing laundry and my dog isnt [sic] helping by running off with the folded clothes. Anyone want a puppy? Just kidding hes [sic] a keeper!!!"

But then on March 4, she lamented on Facebook about "needing my dog to be problem free." A day later, the electric company shut off power to Martin's apartment because of nonpayment, the affidavit said.

"Alicia Martin is wondering when i [sic] will get it right," she posted late on March 13, five days before police found her dog dead.

After her arrest, she told police that Bruce had health problems and had lost weight several weeks before his death, according to the affidavit.

She also said she could not afford to take Bruce to a veterinarian and was embarrassed to seek help from her own clinic because the dog was so skinny.

Martin told authorities that she checked into a hotel room days after her electricity was turned off and left Bruce alone in the apartment. She said she often kept the dog in a crate for up to 11 hours each day, checking on him occasionally.

Just hours before her arrest on April 16, she posted on Facebook, "Alicia Martin is gonna start fresh soon watch me." She later paid $1,500 bond on the animal cruelty charge and was transferred to the Frisco jail, where she served time for outstanding traffic violations, Frisco police said.

Martin was released from jail May 8.

She made no mention on Facebook of Bruce's death or her arrest. When she posted a note the day she got out of jail announcing that she was "baaaaack!!!!" a friend asked where she had been.

She replied, "vacations are always nice:)"

The SPCA's Davies said that prospective employees are subject to background checks. Collin County district court records show that Martin was sentenced to probation and community service for drug possession in 2007.

Her public persona shows a different side. In February, Martin received donations of medical supplies from Centennial Medical Center in Frisco on behalf of the SPCA to help abused and neglected animals, according to a local news story.

Martin's supervisor at the SPCA told police that she "does not know how Alicia could have allowed [this] to happen after all the extreme abuse cases she had seen and worked," according to the affidavit.

Jamey Cantrell, animal services manager for the city of Plano, called the whole case "horrific."

"Obviously, anytime you know of an animal that starved to death, that's really a horrific way to die," he said. "Hopefully, this sends a message out that if you commit these acts, you are going to be held responsible for it."