Yorkshire terrier left to die in sealed plastic container outside Pennsylvania animal shelter

PHILADELPHIA -- A senior Yorkshire terrier was abandoned outside a Pennsylvania animal shelter, flea-bitten and left to die. Now, according to WIVB, she is getting ready to find a new home.

PSPCA said the dog – that they named Gertie – was left outside in a plastic container with the lid on while outside temperatures were around 90 degrees. WIVB said it's unclear how long Gertie was in the container before a volunteer discovered her.

“An attentive volunteer saw the container and opened it up to find Gertie inside,” the PSPCA wrote on its Facebook page. “Gertie was covered with fleas and a coating of flea dirt, but otherwise spunky and strong. We named her Gertie because Gertude means “spear of strength.”

According to WIVB, Gertie is currently underweight at about four pounds. The shelter staff hope to help her put on some weight before finding her a forever home.

They are still looking for the person who abandoned Gertie.