Emaciated puppy, left alone for days, collapsed from excitement when rescuers arrived

PATERSON — An animal refuge says "no one was prepared for what they found" after getting a call about an emaciated puppy, with a strong odor, being kept outdoors in the head with no food or water earlier this week.

"A skeleton of a puppy wagged his emaciated body as they approached," the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge wrote in a Facebook post about the experience. "He then collapsed from the exertion and excitement of greeting a visitor, having been alone for days."

Its account continues:

"The officer took him off his chain and brought him into the home, where he staggered over to the toilet and drank all the water out of it before she could stop him. Infected skin flaked from his body as he continued to wag his tail, falling over because he was so dehydrated and starved.

"He had an extremely strong odor from his skin infection and the feces and urine he was living in."

The dog's owner admitted the puppy hadn't eaten in days, the refuge wrote.

Its rescuers rushed to the scene, according to the organization.

"The puppy’s tail never stopped wagging – he was so excited to finally have human contact and kind touch," the refuge wrote.

They held in him a fluffy towel, because he was frail, according ot the group.

"This happy, dying puppy quickly found his name – Pax – meaning peace because he had finally found his peace after being kept alone with no food or water in the middle of the ghetto tied to a porch in extreme heat with painful infected skin and standing in his feces and urine," the refuge wrote.

The rescuers took Pax to the Oradell animal hospital. All along the way, "he never stopped kissing them," the refuge wrote.

"When they arrived and unwrapped him, he began wiggling again. He was so happy, his tail wagging furiously – all the while the rescuers were in tears as he tipped over again and again from weakness, his skin flaked to the floor and his little heartbeat seemed to shine right through his paper-thin skin," it wrote.

According to the refuge, "that little heart seems to be what got him through so many long days and even longer nights."

Pax has survived so far, hospitalized on IV fluids and antibiotics nonstop, according to the refuge.

Next, food will need to be slowly reintroduced to his body, it said.

"Pax is finally at peace, and we can’t wait to give him all of the attention, love and care that he has so desperately been craving," the refuge wrote.

It's collecting money for his care via a GoFundMe campaign. As of Thursday morning, the campaign had raised more than $5,500.

In an update posted late Wednesday night, the refuge wrote Pax had returned to the shelter, having gained two pounds and doing well.

"He is the sweetest, most loving puppy, and he's getting lots of attention,' it wrote on the GoFundMe page.

He's getting medicated baths every two days, and eating several small meals a day, th refuge wrote.

"This very special puppy has won the hearts of everyone who meets him. He's got a long way to go, but his spirit is strong, and he's very loved."

More from New Jersey 101.5: