The Humane Rescue Alliance of DC found a critically malnourished Pit Bull mix in a gutter on Okie Street NE. Shepherd, a dehydrated 9-month-old puppy, lay in the gutter for 12 hours. His organs were also slowly shutting down.

Shepherd was sent to a nearby hospital. The vet didn’t see much chance for him because he was constantly collapsing and had severe mange destroying his skin. Shepherd, however, passed this critical period after a week of intensive care and slowly found the strength to live once more!

Shepherd is presently at a temporary home in Burke, Virginia. Kim O’Keefe, his foster mother, finds it disgusting that someone would cruelly harm the wonderful, loving dog. Shepherd is becoming stronger every day thanks to Kim’s care and will soon be ready for a forever home.

Meanwhile, Humane Rescue Alliance volunteers assist cops in locating the individual who abandoned Shepherd like trash. The shelter was only a few steps away from the gutter, yet the perpetrator chose to let the dog suffer and die slowly in the gutter.

Watch Shepherd’s abandonment case and ongoing recuperation in the video below.