HUNTERDON COUNTY – Emerald has a forgiving soul.

Despite being tied up by her snout, creating a wound so deep it tore through her flesh, exposing her bones and teeth, the 9-month-old pit bull mix puppy is a happy, loving girl who is expected to be up for adoption in May once all her medical conditions have been treated.

“It’s a horrific injury, something you do not see. It’s a terrible thing what someone did to her. Whoever did this to her is an absolute monster, ” said Beth Hucke, an Outcast Rescue board director.

On Feb. 23, Emerald, who is called Emmie, was found in the early morning hours on Market and North 52nd Street in Philadelphia, where she had been tied up to a fence by her snout, according to Hucke, whose organization, Outcast Rescue, is a foster-based rescue in Hunterdon and Middlesex counties, and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, for mostly pit bulls and Rottweilers in high-kill shelters.

Hucke said Emerald was taken to a Philadelphia shelter, where she was scheduled to be euthanized before another Outcast Rescue board director brought the dog to Crown Veterinary Specialists in Lebanon for emergency treatment.

“She had a major infection in her face, major swelling. She was immediately put on antibiotics and the next day had surgery,” said Hucke, adding that the infection initially got worst. “It was a mess.”

Hucke, who is caring for Emerald in her Clinton home, said the dog was then taken to South Branch Veterinary Services in Lebanon, the group’s regular veterinarian, where dead tissue was removed and the infection was flushed out. She said the wound was kept open for wet and dry bandages to be applied throughout the day to clear up the infection.

On Tuesday, the top part of Emerald’s snout was closed.

Hucke said the dog’s injuries indicate that something was tied very tightly around her snout and then looped around her head because she has a 4-inch laceration on the back of her head.

“I’ll tell you what: she’s a forgiving soul. I would never trust another human again if I were her, but she loves everybody. It’s amazing,” Hucke said. “She’s a happy girl.”

Emerald will be checked later this week to make sure the wound remains closed. Hucke said a molar tooth was removed Tuesday because whatever was tied around her also sheared a back molar.

“I’ve seen a lot of cruelty cases and this is probably one of the worst ones,” said Hucke adding that there was a stench from the infected flesh.

Emerald will be spayed after her face heals and placed up for adoption, probably in May. Hucke said the incision will take a couple of weeks to heal, and once the antibiotics clear the infection, it will still be a few weeks before she is sedated again to be spayed.

“I’ve seen a lot of cruelty cases and this is probably one of the worst ones,” said Hucke adding that there was a stench from the infected flesh.

Emerald will be spayed after her face heals and placed up for adoption, probably in May. Hucke said the incision will take a couple of weeks to heal, and once the antibiotics clear the infection, it will still be a few weeks before she is sedated again to be spayed.

She said following a posting by the rescue group, the SPCA was made aware of the situation and began an investigation.

Hucke said a reward of $500 has been anonymously offered for information in identifying the person responsible for Emerald’s injuries.

“Someone out there knows this dog and somebody knows who did this to her,” said Hucke, adding that pleas has gone out but no one has come forward.