The Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was alerted to a report of suspected animal cruelty in New York on November 15.
A concerned local, who has since been praised by the not-for profit for the "heroic act", said the dog appeared to be tied to "inadequate shelter" and it "looked like her leg had been 'blown off' and was not receiving care".
The organisation responded and found the dog living outside in a plastic pet crate with hay inside.
The dog required immediate medical attention, with tests later revealing she was anemic, had a heart murmur and a non-cancerous tumour that required surgery to remove.
"The team is going to do everything we can to ease Zoe's pain and show her compassion and a more peaceful life that she deserves," the SPCA wrote on Facebook.
Charged
The dog's owner Carl Pritchard, 59, has been arrested and charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.
He also faces charges of failure to provide proper sustenance and failure to provide appropriate shelter for a dog left outdoors, according to NY Police.
The dog is now being cared for by the Susquehanna SPCA and is being treated at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Susquehanna SPCA shared her story "to highlight the very sad fact that animals like Zoe are in our communities suffering".
They estimate the dog's medical treatment could cost up to $5,000 and are calling for the public to donate.
This story first appeared on 7NEWS and is re-published here with permission.
