Iowa Rescue Dog Dumped in a Cage and 'Left Alone' in 18-Degree Cold, Now in 'Gentle Hands'

• A thin and scarred dog was found dumped outside the old location of an Iowa animal shelter on March 2

• A good Samaritan spotted the abandoned dog alone in the 18-degree cold and brought the canine to the Humane Society of Scott County

• The Humane Society of Scott County named the dog Rise to honor the pet's resilience

A dog found abandoned in a cage in Iowa in 18-degree weather is ready to begin a warm and welcoming next chapter.

On Sunday, March 2, the Kings Harvest Pet Rescue No Kill Shelter in Davenport announced on Facebook that, earlier that morning, an unidentified person left a dog unattended in the cold outside of the shelter's former location.

The Iowa rescue posted on social media that the individual who left the pet parked across the street from the former building—unoccupied for months—and "made the dog" follow them across the street even though the pup was limping.

Ultimately, the person left the dog in a cage in 18-degree Fahrenheit weather with "no regard for the animal's well-being," the shelter wrote. Kings Harvest shared that the dog was also "left under a sign" containing the shelter's new address.

Luckily, a good Samaritan stepped up after spotting the dumped dog shivering outside the empty building.

"We are grateful that a driver spotted the dog hours later," Kings Harvest wrote in its post, alongside multiple images of the dog and an apparent screenshot of security footage showing a person abandoning the pup.

Related: 2 Dogs Found Abandoned in Cage in Utah Desert with ‘No Food or Water’: 'Left to Die'

Kings Harvest suspects the dog has endured "a history of neglect" because of the canine's "thin and scarred appearance." The person who discovered the abandoned female dog took her to the Humane Society of Scott County, where she received a new name: Rise.

In a March 2 Facebook post, the Humane Society of Scott County shared that Rise was "left alone in the cold," but she "is safe now" and "is receiving medical care, gentle hands, and all the love she deserves."

The rescue also wrote how its team landed on the name Rise for the rescue dog.

"[The name] speaks to new beginnings, resilience, and the hope that today is the start of something better—a new life," the humane society wrote in its post.

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What's next for Rise? The Humane Society of Scott County wrote that the dog is ready for the next step of her "journey" and encouraged locals to donate to her recovery.

"As much as we love her already, a shelter is no substitute for a home," the organization wrote. "We would love to place her with a foster family where she can feel the warmth and comfort of home while she heals."

Rise, the mixed breed pup, weighs 27.9 pounds, is estimated to be around 4 years old, and is currently on stray hold, according to her landing page on the humane society's website. Before Rise starts the official search for a forever home, she is waiting for her stray hold to end and to get her necessary vaccinations. Still, those curious about fostering Rise can email tbrandt@hssc.us to learn more.

Related: Woman Saves Dog Found Alone in Parking Lot After Pet's Previous Owners Said They 'Weren't Interested' in Reuniting

In its Facebook post, the Humane Society of Scott County added, "If you own Rise, we would love to guide you through the surrender process. This will allow us to learn more about her future care/needs and set her up for success."

The rescue also encouraged others not to judge Rise or her former owner and reiterated its dedication to helping all pets and pet parents.

"It's easy to feel anger in situations like this, but instead, we choose understanding. Someone, for whatever reason, felt they had no other choice," the humane society wrote. "To our community, please remember: we are a safe haven. Our doors are always open. If you are struggling, please reach out. We will always do our best to help. No pet should have to spend a moment feeling abandoned or afraid."

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