From Cold and Forgotten to Warm and Loved: Deaf Senior Dog Rescued on Christmas Eve Now Thrives in a Safe Home

The Monmouth County SPCA tells PEOPLE that the dog’s former owner “will be charged” amid his recovery

One senior dog is still recovering after his rescue in Asbury Park, N.J., where he was left chained outside in freezing temperatures.

The Monmouth County SPCA, which named the dog Kristoff, shared the canine’s tragic story on Facebook on Dec. 24. The SPCA noted that Kristoff is deaf and arthritic and was found chained to a fence in temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Writing that Kristoff’s rescuers discovered the dog “frozen half to death,” the shelter shared that they are “so thankful” that someone called a cruelty hotline to report the suffering animal.

“He’s doing really well,” she says. “We’re going through all the panels of blood work and radiography, so our veterinary team is just going over everything, making sure he’ll be healthy enough for adoption since he was kept outside for so long without any medical care.”

“We’re doing everything we can to keep Kristoff comfortable and will keep everyone updated on his progress,” the MCSPCA wrote.