NEED TO KNOW

• A husky dog, now named Justice, is recovering after being left tightly tied to a street pole, the Pennsylvania SPCA says

• The dog was found to have a skull fracture after being surrendered as a stray

• The SPCA shared that Justice is now safe and receiving medical care

A husky named Justice is on the road to recovery after what animal welfare officials describe as a deeply troubling case of alleged abuse.

In a March 6 social media post, the Pennsylvania SPCA said the dog first came to its attention when it received a photo of the canine, showing the pet tightly tethered to a street pole outside her Philadelphia neighborhood. When one of the SPCA’s rescue teams arrived to investigate, “she was already loose.”

“We knew something wasn’t right, and we were determined to help,” the organization wrote on Facebook alongside the photo of Justice that launched the investigation.

The organization went on to explain that its cruelty team received video footage that appeared to show an individual physically harming the dog. “While we worked to secure a warrant, her owner took matters into their own hands—surrendering Justice to ACCT Philly as a stray,” read the SPCA’s post, which noted the dog was dropped off at a local Animal Control facility.

Aware that the Pennsylvania SPCA had been working to help Justice, ACCT Philly contacted the organization after the husky ended up in its care and arranged for the dog to be transferred. Once at the SPCA, Justice was reviewed by veterinarians, who determined the dog’s condition to be severe and critical.

“Tethered. Beaten. Broken—but not beyond hope,” the Pennsylvania SPCA explained online.

“What our veterinary staff found upon intake was heartbreaking. Justice had a skull fracture,” noted the social media post. “Someone seriously hurt her. Deliberately.”

The organization added that the dog is now in a safe environment and receiving medical treatment and “the care she deserves and the safety she was denied for far too long.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Pennsylvania SPCA for further details on the heartbreaking situation.

The Pennsylvania SPCA is now asking for public support to help cover the cost of Justice’s care and assist other animals in similar situations.

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“Every dollar goes directly to every animal like her who arrives at our doors bearing the physical scars of cruelty,” the group said. As Justice continues to heal, the shelter emphasized a message of resilience and hope, writing, “Justice’s past was defined by someone else. Her future belongs to her.”

Read the original article on People