BAY TERRACE — A seriously injured puppy was found in a plastic bag near a Staten Island train station.
The 6-month-old Maltese Shih Tzu was found in a plastic shopping bag near the Bay Terrace train station on Friday night with a fractured skull and a broken right thigh bone, the Staten Island Advance first reported.
"The dog has sustained very substantial injuries," said Natasha Whitling, spokeswoman for the ASPCA, which is caring for the pup.
"She is being provided with medical care and we are continuing to monitor her progress closely."
Two women heard cries near the train station on Friday night and, after 45 minutes of searching, found the puppy in a bag near the fence, according to a Facebook post by S.N.A.R.R Animal Rescue Northeast, which plans to take over caring for the dog from the ASPCA.
"Upon opening the bag, to their horror, they found a tiny white puppy with a pretty pink bow who they thought was dead," the post read.
"Then she moved....They named her Charlotte and rushed her to South Shore Hospital in Staten Island, where the vets gave her an extremely guarded prognosis."
S.N.A.R.R did not respond to a request for comment.
According to the post, the puppy weighed less than 2 pounds and has shown "great signs of improvement."
The ASPCA said police were investigating the case and the 122 Precinct tweeted on Saturday asking people with more information to call 1-800-577-Tips or the precinct.
