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Animal Control Officers Save Injured Dog Found In Bitter Cold

DENVER (CBS4) - A lucky dog is recovering at Denver's animal shelter. The dog was saved from the brutally cold weather over the weekend by determined Animal Control officers. Now the search is on for his owner.

In all, 67 dogs were either brought in by the public or taken in from Denver streets just in the last week of cold temperatures. For one of those dogs, it was almost too late.

DOG RESCUE
(credit: CBS)

Although he's still scared and shaky, the dog is alive.

"It was really cold. It was cold," said Larry Edelman.

Edelman found the dog during Saturday night's sub-freezing temperatures in his backyard just blocks from Washington Park.

"He was obviously frightened," Edelman said.

The homeowner tried taking the dog inside but wasn't able to get him out from under his patio. Noticing the dog's injuries and fearing for his life, Edelman called 311.

"You can see there's some blood there (in Edelman's yard), so it was in some distress," Edelman said.

RELATED: People From Across U.S. Want Kitten Rescued From Sub-Zero Temps In Denver

"It had some cracking to its paws," Animal Control Officer Daniel Ettinger said.

Animal Control officers responded and caught the dog before it was too late.

"Being that that animal was left out in the cold without proper shelter, it could have succumbed to the cold temperature," Ettinger said.

The dog was cold, dehydrated and hurt, but vets were able to stabilize him. Now the search is on for his owner. He's about three years old.

"Could the dog be running from Georgia to California? We don't know," Ettinger said.

The dog has no tags, but Animal Control officers say his shy demeanor says he's likely being missed by someone.

"If it does have an owner its probably very bonded to that owner," Ettinger said.

The animal shelter's policy is to hold the dog for five days, and then he goes up for adoption. The same goes for the other 67 dogs that were brought in during the cold.

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