A New Orleans police officer was arrested this morning and booked with two counts of animal cruelty after authorities say one of her dogs died of severe malnutrition.

A second dog, a boxer, was removed from her LaPlace yard and turned over to the St. John the Baptist Parish animal shelter in severely bad shape, St. John Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Andy Breaux said.

Authorities say Nikia Adams, 28, of 1908 Cartier Drive, called the St. John animal shelter on Tuesday for help to remove the dead labrador retriever that weighed 23 pounds. The dog should have weighed 55, according to LaPlace veterinarian Dr. Phillip Thiac who examined the dog.

Although dog food was seen at Adams’ house and she told an animal shelter employee that she fed the dogs several times a day, a post mortem examination seemed to indicate otherwise.

“She told the animal shelter worker that she fed the dog a dozen times a day,” Breaux said. “Dr. Thiac said he found absolutely no food content in the dog’s body.”

Adams was booked into the parish jail with one felony count of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. She was released earlier today after posting her $4,500 bond.

Adams has been a district patrol officer with the New Orleans Police Department for 10 years, said Officer Gary Flot, a police department spokesman.