Dog found suffering from burns and mange on Waterbury street

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- A malnourished pit bull suffering from burns and mange was found on the streets of Waterbury.

Her eyes say it all. Mange, burns, and hunger took over her young body.

Someone left her to die on Hopkins Street and Richard Ramirez spotted her from his window.

"I said 'yo, this dog looks like it's about to die man. I don't know what to do,'" said Ramirez.

He called his friend, they alerted animal control, and help arrived.

"It broke my heart to see her in that condition, and it broke my heart to know that there are still people out here like that," said Ramirez.

Police say when they found Precious she was curled up in a ball trying to protect herself from the wind and when they approached her you would think she wouldn't trust a human, but instead she welcomed the help.

"I mean, it's emotional because the dog appears to be very friendly and very loving and definitely needing and wanting affection," said Sgt. Renee Harvey, Waterbury Animal Control.

Sargeant Harvey says she has mange, a skin disease. She thinks someone tried a home remedy and now she has burns on her already delicate skin and parts of her fur are blue.

They brought her to the Mattatuck Animal Hospital and properly named her.

"Just the fact that we did get to her in time, I figured it was kind of precious that she was saved so we went with the name," said Sgt. Harvey.

She says abuse like this happens too often and they rarely find the culprit, but hopefully a new owner will make up for the bad one.

"On one hand you have someone who would do this to an animal but then you have so many other people who are willing to step in and step up to the plate," said Sgt. Harvey.

"Hopefully, they'll find another home for her and that's good," said Ramirez.

Let's hope she experiences the same love she continues to give to others.