A 10-week-old puppy is recovering after being left outside of a south-central Pennsylvania animal shelter in a crate wrapped in plastic with no ventilation holes.

The Presa Canario puppy was dropped off about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday at the end of the Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals driveway, Humane Officer Abby Avery told TribLIVE on Friday. The first employee didn’t arrive until three hours later.

The puppy was suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning and is exhibiting some neurological problems, Avery said, but it is “improving every day.”

“At first, he was extremely lethargic,” she said, adding the puppy only recently began eating, drinking and playing. “We don’t know what the long-term effects will be. The vet is optimistic he will recover, but he can’t say 100 percent.”

A Presa Canario is part of the mastiff family, Avery said.

“It’s not a common breed,” she said. “It’s not like a lab.

“I’m hoping someone knows someone who is breeding this dog.”

The dog is staying with an employee while it recovers and is not up for adoption, at least yet, Avery said. Even if it makes a full recovery, the dog would not be a good fit for just any family.

“They’re bred for protection,” Avery said. “We’ll be very cautious because of the breed.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Avery at 717-334-8876 ext. 22.

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