Police Find Frostbitten, Filthy Puppy in a Crate And Think the Dog Is ‘Already Deceased’ — But She ‘Isn’t Giving Up’

Police in Erie, Pennsylvania, were called to a troubling scene on Monday, Jan. 19: a Siberian husky puppy abandoned “in a crate under a bridge.” When officers first found her, they feared it was already too late.

ANNA Shelter said it received the call around 7 p.m. and took the puppy in that evening, later sharing the rescue on Facebook. The conditions outside were brutal — temperatures that day ranged from 4 to 23 degrees, below freezing, according to data from The Weather Channel. The shelter noted the roughly 6-month-old pup “was believed to be frozen and possibly already deceased.”

But she was alive.

The shelter named her Aimee, honoring the police dispatcher “who took the original call about this special soul.” Staff said she arrived unresponsive, barely hanging on.

Aimee’s condition was critical. On intake, her body temperature was 94 degrees and her heart rate was just 46 beats per minute. (Normal dog body temperatures range from 99.5 degrees to 102.5 degrees, and normal heart rates for puppies under 1 range from 120 to 160 beats per minute, per the American Red Cross.)

She was also in filthy, painful condition — “covered in feces,” with frostbite on all four paws, and “reeked of urine,” according to the shelter. At 15.2 pounds, ANNA described her as “literally a rack of bones.”

Shelter staff moved quickly: warm blankets, blow drying, gentle care, medication, and constant monitoring. After about three and a half hours, the shelter said, Aimee began to show signs of life — stretching her legs and trying to lift her head.

“We are feeling hopeful for this girl, but she is far from out of the woods,” the shelter wrote on Jan. 19, adding that a staff member would stay with her overnight. “Praying tomorrow brings great news for us all.”

ANNA Shelter also said it would work with Erie police to “get justice” for the puppy.

Since then, the shelter has posted multiple updates tracking Aimee’s progress.

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, staff shared that during her first 24 hours in their care, the “warrior” pup tried to roll over and stand on her own. The shelter also reported she had urinated and had two bowel movements — a major step forward given how close she came to death.

The shelter said Aimee suffered “major” organ damage, but added there was hope her organs could recover and that a treatment plan was underway. “Aimee isn’t giving up, and neither are we!” the post read.

In the most recent update — a video shared Wednesday, Jan. 21 — Aimee is seen walking on her own without physical support. She remains weak and unsteady, the shelter noted, but she’s moving forward all the same — still wobbly, still fragile, still fighting.