“Free pup. Name is Scooter. Owner went to jail today.”

That’s the heartbreaking sign Maria Jaramillo saw next to a tiny abandoned dog in Lexington County, South Carolina. Being an animal lover, she was crushed when she saw people walk right by the pup without so much as a second glance. She and her cousin Bianca Anahi Cushman decided to find a no-kill shelter for Scooter so that he could find a forever home.

With his leash tied to a tree, the poor dog just sat there waiting for help. He was left with access to food and water, but the food was found scattered on the ground near him. He was probably too stressed to eat.

Facebook / Bianca Anahi Cushman

Thanks to the determination and kindness of Jaramillo and Cushman, Scooter is now safe and sound in the home of Paula Langford, who is the founder of Southeastern Homeless Animals. As of this writing, rescuers are looking to place Scooter in a home. It is believed that police arrested the dog’s owner at a local Walmart before he was found. You can find more information in the video below.

If you’d like to learn more about what happens to dogs when their owners go to jail, check out this piece on Vice. Share this saddening story with all the animal lovers in your life. We wish Scooter nothing but love and happiness from here on out!