BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Maintenance workers at the Garden Spires apartment building in Newark were pulling garbage out of a chute and putting it into a compactor on March 16 when they noticed one of the bags was moving.

That probably saved the life of Patrick, a New Jersey pit bull.

The City of Newark Animal Control was contacted and Animal Control Officer Arthur Skinner picked up the dog and brought him directly to the Associated Humane Society. Ahscares.org reports that after a brief time at the Society's Newark facility, he was ambulanced to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls -- a referral hospital with 24 hour emergency care.

Fox News reported Patrick was found so brutalized his bones protruded from his fur and he had no body temperature. Animal care workers are calling it one of the worst cases of cruelty they've ever seen.

Katharine Palmer, an emergency critical care specialist at the animal hospital, told NJ.com that Patrick will remain in the intensive care unit for a few more days before being transferred to the regular ward. After that, he will go to a pet foster care program and will be available for adoption.

The dog was later named "Patrick" because he made it through the night and into St. Patrick's Day.

According to ahscares.org, society staffers visited Patrick on March 22nd. When Patrick came in to Garden State Veterinary Specialists, he was given an ultrasound, was examined by an internist and a neurologist. Patrick is on antibiotics and pain meds. Dr. Scavelli at Garden State said that had Patrick not come in when he did, he would have died within 6-12 hours.

Donations from as far away as Germany, Italy and England are pouring in to help the animal. People can donate to Patrick’s medical costs here.

The New Jersey ASPCA is investigating the crime and searching for a suspect in the case. A $2,000 reward is being offered for any information on the crime.