A police officer from Jefferson County, Missouri discovered an upsetting scene one morning earlier this year. He saw something in a ditch by the side of the road and decided to investigate what it was. What he found was shocking and deeply upsetting but the story does have a happy ending.

The officer discovered an elderly Dachshund bound with tape and left at the side of the road.

When the officer approached the dog, it became clear that he was struggling to survive. It would later be estimated that the poor guy had been in that spot for about 12 hours. What horror that must have been for them. What a disgusting and deplorable act someone had committed.

The dog had been there overnight. The temperature had dropped to the teens that evening.

https://www.facebook.com/IvanAnimalHospital/photos/pcb.2530566316984660/2530566193651339/?type=3&theater

They named him Jimmy.

He had survived the night in the cold and now the deputy was there to help.The officer took the poor dog to his car and gently removed the tape that had been used to bind the dog. His legs were taped together and his mouth had been taped shut.

Animal control drives Jimmy to Ivan Animal Hospital.

Animal control took the Dachshund to Ivan Animal Hospital to have him checked for any injuries or other health concerns. Dr. Laura Ivan spoke to Fox News about Jimmy’s prognosis.

“His prognosis looks very good. He has a little bit of a residual head tilt which basically implies that he is off balance a little bit, which when they tilt their head they’re actually seeing straight ahead of us. But he’s been happy, he wags his tail a lot, he’s active, he’s eating.”

It seems like despite the horrible act that was committed upon him, Jimmy is doing great!

https://www.facebook.com/IvanAnimalHospital/photos/pcb.2530566316984660/2530566163651342/?type=3&theater

Jefferson County Sheriff’s office looks for the offender.

While the officer who found Jimmy was happy that the dog’s health was good, he wasn’t just going to let this go. There was a person out there who did this to Jimmy and they needed to be found.

The deputy was smart enough to hold onto every little strand of tape that Jimmy had been bound with. The tape was evidence.

“The deputy having that forethought to save that duct tape and took it back to the evidence lab and the techs worked on it for hours and they were able to slowly peel that duct tape apart and they found a fingerprint on the sticky side of it”

Now, police had a fingerprint of the person who did this to Jimmy.

Arrest made for animal abuse.

https://www.facebook.com/JeffCoMoSheriff/posts/2029302170521293

Police ran the fingerprint through their database and came up with a match.

They then arrested Paul Garcia, 39, and charged him with animal abuse. He was also charged with armed criminal action for using the tape and binding Jimmy’s legs and jaw.

Finding Jimmy’s owner.

Garcia was not the dog’s owner, however. The Animal Hospital posted photos of Jimmy online and Katie Kofron recognized him immediately.

“His name is flick he’s been my dog for 13 years.”

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She would later say that she believes Garcia stole Flick from her yard when he had been let out to pee. Kofron sent the animal hospital records she had of Flick’s previous medical care to prove she really is his owner. She was then reunited with her little guy who had been through such a harrowing ordeal.

https://www.facebook.com/JeffCoMoSheriff/posts/2037298529721657

A local business owner named Todd Mahn was touched by the story and stepped up to pay for all of Flick’s medical bills as well. Katie and Flick had already been through so much and this kind man just wanted to help.

You can learn more about Flick’s ordeal in the video below.

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Source: KSDK News/Fox2