A dog stolen from the Estill County Animal Shelter in Kentucky earlier this week has been found safe.

Staff discovered Monday that locks at the shelter had been tampered with and a hound named Rocco was missing. Because the dog may need medical treatment, workers feared for his safety and alerted deputies while spreading the word on social media.

Rocco was found Wednesday after witnesses said he had been dumped along a roadside. A local resident who picked him up returned him to the shelter.

Authorities are investigating the theft, and shelter staff say they are now working to find Rocco a permanent home.

fox56news.com