The dog, named Firefox, is now receiving emergency care and round-the-clock monitoring
Credit: Monmouth County SPCA/Facebook (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- A 3-pound puppy named Firefox was found in critical condition in New Jersey after severe starvation and neglect
- The Monmouth County SPCA is providing emergency care, including physical therapy and specialized feeding, to help him recover
- Authorities are searching for the person responsible, as the SPCA raises funds to cover Firefox’s extensive medical needs
A 3-pound puppy is fighting for his life after being abandoned on the side of a road in Marlboro, N.J.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, April 2, the Monmouth County SPCA explained that the small dog, named Firefox, was found inside a small, locked crate. In the images shared in the post, the cage floor was covered in waste.
"He was left to die," the post wrote on the dog's dire situation.
Credit: Monmouth County SPCA/Facebook
According to the organization, Firefox was in critical condition when he was discovered, weighing about three pounds and suffering from severe starvation. The puppy was given a body condition score of 1, which is "the lowest possible rating before death," the post noted.
"Firefox was discarded like trash, unable to walk and skeletal from starvation," the SPCA wrote. The canine was immediately rushed into emergency care, where he survived his first night. Animal care officials reported that his "blood sugar levels were [four times] the normal limit from pure trauma," and that his medical needs remain urgent.
Credit: Monmouth County SPCA/Facebook
"While his medical issues are currently secondary to severe starvation and neglect, his road to recovery is long," the organization shared.
Firefox is now receiving round-the-clock monitoring as the care staff works to stabilize his condition. The dog's treatment plan includes hospitalization, physical therapy to support him walking on his own again, specialized feeding to ensure safe weight gain, and other long-term restorative care.
Credit: Monmouth County SPCA/Facebook
At the same time, authorities are searching for the person responsible for abandoning the puppy. Currently, there are no leads on a suspect.
PEOPLE reached out to the Monmouth County SPCA for an update on Firefox's recovery journey.
To help cover Firefox's financial needs, the organization launched a fundraiser, calling each donation "a defiant 'no' to cruelty and a 'yes' to Firefox's second chance."
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The SPCA's post noted that the community's financial support is "a small part of his rescue story," adding, "He's fought to stay alive — now it's our turn to fight for him."
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