A dog in Hawaii was rescued last week after being found buried alive in the sand on an Oahu beach.
The dog, dubbed Leialoha by the group that rescued her, was found swollen, sunburned and missing about 90 percent of her fur, PAWS of Hawaii said in a post on Facebook.
According to the nonprofit organization, Leialoha had just been buried in the sand and the person who did it had a machete with them "so who knows what was next," PAWS of Hawaii said July 9.
The organization was alerted by an anonymous tipster that a man was burying Leialoha in the sand, and one of the nonprofit's workers arrived at the scene to rescue the dog.
The person who buried Leialoha did it because her ailments were too much to handle, KITV reported .
"He felt he was ending her suffering by trying to end her life, instead of getting her the help she needed," Ku'ulei Durand, the executive director of PAWS of Hawaii, told KITV .
In addition to dehydration, sunburns and lesions, the dog also had cuts on her paws believed to have been caused by the person who buried her alive.
"Her skin, if you were able to smell her, is rancid because she has so many open sores that are infected," Durand told KITV.
But don't worry about little Leialoha. PAWS of Hawaii posted an update to their Facebook page Monday showing the sweet dog wagging her tail.
"Litte Leialoha is still a bit hesitant and shy, given all she’s gone through," the animal rescue said. "But the improvements are consistent and just breathtaking."
The dog has received care for her ailments through Aloha Affordable Veterinary Services and is currently staying in a foster home. But make no mistake — this pup is definitely going to end up in a permanent home. She received adoption inquiries from all over the world, and will eventually go home with a Hawaiian family, PAWS of Hawaii said.
"We are very happy to say she has a wonderful family from Hawai’i (Big Island) interested in giving her a forever home once she’s healing up," PAWS said.
Donations can be made to PAWS of Hawaii here .
