Park Rangers outside of Kansas City, Missouri made a shocking and heartbreaking discovery at Longview Lake on Friday. A terrified, mud-caked dog – since named Deputy by his rescuers – had been chained to a 12″ x 12″ concrete masonry block and presumably left to drown as the waters rose. He is now recovering at the Great Plains SPCA in Independence, MO where staff describe him as a “loving, happy dog.”Park Rangers outside of Kansas City, Missouri made a shocking and heartbreaking discovery at Longview Lake on Friday. A terrified, mud-caked dog – since named Deputy by his rescuers – had been chained to a 12″ x 12″ concrete masonry block and presumably left to drown as the waters rose. He is now recovering at the Great Plains SPCA in Independence, MO where staff describe him as a “loving, happy dog.”

Park rangers heard Deputy’s cries and began investigating the banks of Longview Lake. They discovered the dog standing in muddy water, shivering from the cold, and contacted Jackson County Animal Control. Officer Tonya Hampton, who is also an employee of Great Plains SPCA, responded.

‘I was very sad for him,” Hampton told KMBC News 9. “It was obvious this had been done intentionally.”

Adding to this tragic mystery is the fact that Deputy appears to have been well cared for. He is a healthy weight, has been neutered, and after a good bath, SPCA staff discovered a soft, shiny coat. The Lab/Shepherd mix is estimated to be between five and seven years old.

Once Deputy realized he was safe, his sweet, outgoing personality emerged. His new friends at the SPCA feel he will have no trouble finding a new, loving home.

He will be available to meet potential adopters starting Wednesday!

Although investigators are relieved that he was rescued with minimal physical and emotional trauma, they are determined to find the person or persons responsible for putting Deputy in danger.

“They need to answer for their actions,” Hampton said. “It just makes you wonder what people are thinking, and what kind of person could do something like that.”