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TUCSON - The 9-week-old puppy abandoned and left to die in a trash can at Kennedy Park is on the road to recovery. Now animal cruelty investigators are hoping you can help track down the person responsible.

Kennedy is now at the Humane Society getting the care and treatment she needs. They say this is one of the most heart-wrenching cases of animal abandonment they have ever seen.

"She was really emaciated, dehydrated, she was extremely hungry," said Sara Gromley of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. "It was very clear that she'd been neglected for a very long time."

Tail wagging, bundled in a new sweater to keep warm it is hard to see the full extent of Kennedy's condition, but pictures show just how close to death this Labrador-Retriever mix came.

"She was very lucky that there were some nice people in the right place at the right time," said Gromley.

Animal abandonment is a misdemeanor in Pima County. No leads in Kennedy's case yet but since it is so severe, 88-CRIME is offering a $1,000 reward for any tips leading to an arrest.

Kennedy's rescue comes just a few weeks after an 8-week-old Pit Bull mix, now known as Oscar, was found in a Reid Park trash can. So far no leads in his criminal investigation either, but his story has a happy ending. Oscar went home with his new family Tuesday.

With ongoing vet care and lots of love, the Humane Society says Kennedy can have her happy ending too.

"She might require foster care since she is so skinny and we need to get her stable before we can get her spayed and microchipped and ready for her new home," said Gromley.

If you decide you can no longer care for your pet there are several places here in town that will help you.

There is a $35 fee to drop off your animal at the Humane Society, since it is a non-profit organization.

Pima Animal Care Center accepts animals daily free of charge.

It also works with dozens of local rescue groups to find animals permanent homes.