RESCUED DOG NEEDS HOME, LOVING CARE.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - An emaciated dog that caretakers described as little more than a ``bag of bones'' and days from death when it was found now needs a place to call home, rescuers said Friday.

Marty, a 10- to 12-year-old Shar-Pei, is improving from one of the worst conditions rescuers have encountered, said the group CARE. Marty still faces ongoing medical needs, but otherwise is getting increasingly active.

``I've never seen anything like it. It's amazing he's still alive,'' said Carol Brooke, a member of Cat/Canine Assistance, Referral and Education in Sherman Oaks, and also a receptionist at the animal hospital treating the canine.

``There's so many animals that get dumped in the hills. This is what happens.''

Rescuers said two teens hiking in the Box Canyon area found the dog more than a week ago, and brought it to one of the group members known in the neighborhood for saving canines.

Emaciated and dehydrated, the dog had been huddled near a tree, whimpering, the rescuers said. Brooke said carrying the dog was ``like carrying a bag of bones down the hill.''

After a few days at an animal emergency center, the group brought Marty to the Animal Medical Center in Van Nuys where he has undergone tests, X-rays and a special diet to bring him back to health, Brooke said.

At 16 pounds, he was half the weight a dog his size should be, said Lloyd Pilch, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center.

Pilch said in his 25 years as a vet, Marty is the most emaciated dog he's ever seen. ``It's a pretty awful condition,'' he said.

Brooke said the dog suffers from cataracts, needs dental care and is still being tested for other possible medical problems. He also suffers from a skin infection that could take a few weeks to clear, the vet said.

Though Marty will need additional medical attention, she said, he also needs a home.

She suggested a calm environment would be best, and added that the canine is fairly inactive and appears to be house-trained. She expects he could live an additional four to six years.

``He just needs somebody who can pay attention to him,'' said Brooke. CARE is seeking tax-deductible donations to help pay for his medical bills, which are expected to reach $1,000, she said. Also, the group will help pay for costs of food and medical care if the dog is taken into a temporary foster home setting.

``He's really cute,'' she said. ``If he could have a good home to live out his days.''

For information, call [phone], or on the Web at www.angelfire.com/ca3/CARE or www.c-a-r-e.petfinder.org.

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Marty is expected to recover with proper medical attention.