Abandoned Dog Found ‘Malnourished, Unfed and Freezing’ in Pittsburgh Now Seeks Justice

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is on the hunt for a dog owner after a resident found and reported an emaciated dog wandering the streets of the Pennsylvania city.

According to the Pittsburgh Police’s public information officer, Cara Cruz, who spoke with PEOPLE, the dog — a young female estimated to be about two years old — was first spotted on Saturday, Dec. 6, by a woman walking her own dog in a local park in a northern area of the city.

Cruz added that the starving, abandoned dog was so weak and skittish that it ran when the woman first tried to approach. But by Monday morning, around 6:04 am, the same resident coaxed the visibly frail dog into a kennel before authorities arrived to secure the pet.

Sgt. Stephanie LaBella of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, who cared for the dog while it was in custody, told PEOPLE the dog appeared extremely malnourished and yet was still incredibly kind.

“For what the dog has already been through, and being so malnourished and unfed and freezing cold, [she] was still very sweet. She was so high-spirited and full of life. She was so nice,” LaBella, who is an avid dog lover, shared.

“We gave her a treat out of our station stash. She was just so happy to be warm and get a little treat,” she added.

LaBella confirmed that while officers were happy to give small snacks to the dog, they didn’t give her too many to avoid aggravating the pup’s stomach from gorging too quickly. Animal Control transported the canine to the Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh for further evaluation.

Currently, the dog is too frail to be adopted, LaBella noted, and will need to undergo numerous tests and evaluations before she can be released to the public, including behavioral testing and vaccinations. She is expected to survive, officials said, and will need “at least three to four weeks” of monitored eating and training to reach a healthy weight.

PEOPLE reached out to the Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh for comment.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is now hoping the public will assist them in identifying the person who abandoned the small black-and-white dog. Officers believe the former owner could face legal consequences. “It’s going to be felony charges of animal cruelty and neglect,” LaBella told CBS News.

As of writing, there are no suspects for who left the dog, and officials are uncertain how long the pet was on her own.

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“She could have run from anywhere,” stated LaBella. “She could have been out there, from how the dog looked, for weeks, for months. There’s no telling.”

Pittsburgh Police are urging anyone with information about the dog’s previous owner to come forward. Tips can be shared with the department’s non-emergency line at 412-255-2621.