A couple in Danbury, CT., have arrested after an investigation revealed that they used an electronic dog collar on a 9 year old girl for receiving a bad progress report from school.

NBC CT reports that a joint investigation by DCF and Danbury police revealed that Eduardo Montanez had used a PetSafe barking collar on a 9-year-old girl in the couple's care.

Police said the couple was upset about the girl's progress report, so Montanez put the bark collar around her neck and forced her to bark so the collar would shock her.

Paula Montanez was reportedly present when it happened and did nothing to stop the abuse, police said.

According to police, the girl went back to school and told a teacher about her problems at home.

The victim told police the shock collar incident had only happened once, but marks on her neck indicated it might have occurred more often. She also told investigators the couple had beaten her several times. It's not clear when the beatings took place, police said.

Eduardo Montanez, 43, was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to a person. He was held on a $250,000 bond.

Paula Montanez, 34, was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor, conspiracy to commit third-degree assault and conspiracy to commit cruelty to a person. Her bond was set at $200,000.

The 9-year-old victim is in state custody, police said.