The owners of a 3-year-old dalmatian were cited on an animal cruelty charge after photos of the dog with protruding bones surfaced on social media.

Harvey the dalmatian was found by Katherine Lopez in McAllen.

Lopz said she was driving down Bentsen Road between miles 5 and 6 when she said she saw what she described as a walking skeleton.

“He looked like skin and bone, like no body fat — just a straight fossil, Lopez recalled. “It was disturbing. I never pull over for strays, [but] I saw the condition he was in and my heart just broke. I pulled over so fast."

Harvey was found three miles away from where his owners live.

After Lopez rescued the dog, Harvey was taken to the Sullivan City-based shelter Yaqui Animal Rescue.

“We were kinda shocked and of course horrified with the pictures that we had seen because Harvey was emaciated,” Yaqui Animal Rescue Board Member Rebecca Arizmendi said. “How this dog is even alive is a miracle at this point, I have never seen anything like this.”

Harvey was taken to three different vets, who said he was intentionally starved.

Channel 5 News reached out to Harvey’s owners — identified as Yazmin and Edgar Perez — who declined to go on camera.

A family member spoke on the owners’ behalf, and claimed the dog went missing in early December and that Harvey was not starved when he ran away.

A Rio Grande Valley-based veterinarian spoke to Channel 5 News and said it was impossible for Harvey to reach a starving level 10 days after showing a healthy weight.

Harvey is currently staying with a foster family in San Antonio, and has gained a couple of ounces.

Two other dogs were confiscated from Harvey’s owners.

McAllen city spokeswoman Xochitl Mora urged the public to report instances of animal abuse by calling 911, or 311 to report it to the city. 

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