LUDLOW, MA (WSHM) -
Police in Ludlow are thanking the community after residents raised more than $10,000 to save a dog who had allegedly been severely beaten by his owner.
Residents stood in the cold Wednesday night in Ludlow holding candles and praying for victims of animal abuse, victims like 1-year-old Scrunchy, who was found severely beaten and left to die in a snow bank.
"We were going to retrieve his body," said Officer Alison Metcalfe of the Ludlow police department.
Metcalfe and the officers standing by her side found Scrunchy alive just last week and immediately took him in for help. He's back in Ludlow now after undergoing surgery on his skull.
"He's a little be wary, he looks around to see who's around him, I don't know if that's his injury or if he's just curious, but he's been completely fine. He's a little angel," Metcalfe said.
Scrunchy has a new identity. He's now Jameson. And he also has a new home, Metcalfe has taken him in to be a part of her family.
"I don't know, we didn't even think about it, it was just something that we did. We just figured if he's not wanted anywhere else then we'll take him," Metcalfe said.
Jameson will make frequent trips to physical therapy and rehab, but is expected to be just fine thanks to the community who donated more than $10,000 toward his surgeries.
"It's amazing. The outpouring of support and care for one little dog," Metcalfe said.
Between the donations and Wednesday night's vigil, Metcalfe says she couldn't be more thankful.
"It's refreshing to see a community of people come together to support it," she said.
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Officer Metcalfe and her new dog Jameson
