YOUNGSTOWN — Animal Charity is investigating after a dog was found dead on McQuiston Avenue on the East Side on Saturday afternoon, not far from where another dog was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds Saturday morning.

The dog found on McQuiston was a male pit bull mix wrapped in a blanket and tarp just off of the road. The dog was emaciated, Animal Charity stated on its Facebook page. A passerby said the dog was not there Friday.

Animal Charity collected the animal, which had two collars. One was a thick black collar and the other was a choke chain.

At 8:50 p.m. Friday, a resident of Melvina Avenue on the East Side heard gunshots. Saturday morning, a dead dog was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Nelson Avenue, which is about 1.5 miles from McQuiston, according to a police report.

On Saturday morning, a passerby spotted two dogs alongside the road on Nelson Avenue. One was lying still and was deceased. The other dog was resting its head on the other dog’s side, the police report states.

After the passerby got closer, she called for help. The live dog got up and started circling the area to protect the other dog, Animal Charity stated on its website.

Shortly afterward, that dog ran off and hid. Animal Charity humane agents and a deputy from the Mahoning County Dog Warden’s office arrived to find that the deceased dog had been shot about nine times. There were shell casings all around the area.

The dead dog had a blue collar, harness and leash that all matched. He was a brindle and white pit bull mix, most likely a young adult. He was filthy and had a burn or injury from being dragged on his back.

“The past week alone has been unbearable for all involved in animal welfare in our county,” the post states.

Two other animal abuse cases were handled on the East Side earlier last week. One of those dogs also was wrapped in a blanket in a trash bag.

“Every day, we have been faced with one extreme case of abuse after another,” the Animal Charity post states.

The post called the mistreatment of companion animals “a war against the most innocent.” The post asked anyone with information to email Animal Charity at acohumanedepartment@gmail.com