RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — A small dog is alive after he had all four legs tied up and was then dumped on the side of a Florida road to die.

“Hard to believe that somebody would just throw a healthy dog, the dog is healthy, put it on the side of the road like that, and not give it a chance for survival,” said Roger Mills, the Division Director for Animal Control in Hillsborough County. “It’s bad enough that you dump your dog, which is against the law, but you don’t want it to survive because you bound its legs together.”

He added that in Florida, “it’s a felony, it’s a third-degree felony.”

Mills says the dog managed to free one of its legs and then crawl to a nearby home, where a person gave it water and saved its life.

“There’s no reason when there are shelters and rescues,” said Mills. “The shelters will give you food if you can’t afford food.”

Veterinarians at Hillsborough County Animal Services have examined the dog and believe he is about two years old. He has heartworms and abrasions on his legs from where he crawled on the road, but they say he will be fine.

“He’s a very sweet dog. You know, to allow me to pick him up like this within 24 hours of what went on, that’s kind of surprising that he’s that trusting,” said Lori Latzring with Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Hillsborough County says it will offer a reward through Crime Stoppers for information that leads to the person responsible for leaving the dog on the side of the road.