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Teamwork Saves Dog From Unspeakable Cruelty

(CBS) -- Kindness and unbelievable teamwork of complete strangers was the difference between life and death a suffering dog named Augustus.

A 911 call starts a story of survival: "I have a stray dog at my gate. The body is eaten up and you can see his bones."

The 911 dispatcher offers to send an officer to catch Augustus.

Riverdale Police Officer Justin Humpich posted a picture on Facebook.

"I don't know how someone can do that to the dog," he said. "I felt really bad and I felt like I needed to help him."

Bridgid Nolan, of Trio Animal Foundation, said: "Someone that we work with saw the picture and got in touch with us."

Augustus has been started on IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medication.

Hair loss, scabbing and infections on his skin are the result of chemical burns.

Augustus also appears to have been shot at some point.

"Who knows what exactly he's been through," Nolan said. "It's hard to imagine that he's had anything good in his life until he got to us."

The Trio Animal Foundation is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help pay for medical expenses.

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