Charlie was covered in flies, filth and head wounds and lying in the trash next to a dumpster when Nikki Rubino found him.

Nikki had been tagged in a Facebook post about the dog dumped in the garbage near a recreational center. A vet tech for many years, Nikki knew from looking at him that he was on death’s door.

Charlie wasn’t moving when she first approached him to unfasten the string that was attaching him to a pole. That he was even able to lift his head was a miracle.

Nikki and a friend got him to the car and rushed him to Philadelphia Animal Hospital, where his condition has been “touch-and-go” ever since. But the 2-year-old Pit bull has a whole group of supporters rallying to help him heal.

“The following photo is hard to look at but is very important,” the Philadelphia Animal Hospital wrote on Facebook.

“It’s a terrible tragedy when innocent animals are treated in such a way, and we recognize that this is not an isolated incident,” the hospital continued. “Charlie is a very sweet dog and is in stable condition.” The vets are “taking every measure to ensure he gets well.”

An investigation into who is responsible for harming Charlie is also now underway through the Pennsylvania Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ humane law-enforcement unit.

The PSPCA said that Charlie does have a microchip, which was implanted by them as port of their front clinic/vaccine clinic services. Based on Charlie’s wounds it appears he was used as a bait dog for dog fighters.

There has been an outpouring of donations for Charlie, and the Philadelphia Animal Hospital is asking future donations to be directed to the City of Elderly Love: Save a Senior Pet.

“While not our typical rescue, Charlie’s wonderful finders sure brought him to the right place,” City of Elderly Love wrote on Facebook. “Philadelphia Animal Hospital will be caring for and treating him free of cost and as their exclusive rescue partner, we’ll be handling his post-recovery care. We have high hopes that Philly’s amazing Humane Law Enforcement team will be able to bring Charlie’s abusers to justice.”

Although doctors are still very concerned about Charlie developing sepsis due to his wounds, it’s been a few days since his rescue on October 26, 2017 and there are some positive signs he is recovering. As of October 29 (three days after his rescue) he’s “happily trotting around” the hospital.

“There’s no set timeline on his recovery and we’ll have to take it day by day, but Charlie is strong and the worst is over,” the rescue group said. “Tomorrow, he’ll have surgery to remove more of the dead tissue on his face. He’ll need a series of procedures to make a full recovery, but is more comfortable than he has been in a long time.”

His rescuers are making sure he gets lots of rest and cuddles as he recovers.

The animal hospital added, “Tomorrow he will have surgery to remove much of the dead tissue around his face and muzzle. It will be just one of a series of surgeries he will need, but it is a step in the right direction. He is eating well and is much more comfortable than he has been!”

Thank goodness for kind people like Nikki and the rescuers and doctors working to save Charlie’s life and making sure his future is bright.