Neighbors In Painsville Help Rescue Dehydrated And Chained Dog From Yard

A pit bull mix is now safe after a viral video shows it dehydrated and unable to move because of the heat.

Jenna Miley, of Painsville, shot the video of the 1-year-old dog - now named Penny - panting heavily while chained in front of a house on Sunday. Penny had no water or shade at the time. Miley wrote on Facebook that she was visiting her sister when she saw the dog in a neighbor's yard.

The video shows that an unidentified man was able to unchain Penny and take her inside a house so she could cool down.

The Painsville Police Department and the Lake Humane Society were called to take Penny but couldn't do so because "in the state of Ohio, pets are considered personal property and the Humane Society cannot take an animal without the owner’s knowledge, unless an extreme circumstance," the police explained.

With Penny's original owner no where to be found, police were able to get in touch with one of their family members. The family member took Penny in until she was "ultimately surrendered through the court system," Lake Humane Society posted on Facebook.

"Penny is weak, underweight and doing her best to adjust to her new surroundings," the Facebook post by the Lake Humane Society continued. "Upon further examination, it was determined that Penny is suffering from heat stroke, which has resulted in extreme dehydration. Lab work revealed kidney and liver problems - medical staff believe this is the result of deadly heat exposure."

Penny is now receiving medical treatment.

The Lake Humane Society is trying to bring animal cruelty charges against Penny's original owners, who have not been identified.

**Warning: The video may be difficult to watch, and it contains strong language.**

Photo: Getty Images