Why Rescuers and Advocates Are Rallying After Frankie’s Abandonment With a Horrific Neck Injury

A desperate rescue unfolded in Yonkers, New York, when a young dog was discovered in a place no animal should ever be left — alone, injured, and fighting for his life near a cemetery. The dog, later named Frankie, was found on Nov. 21 with a deeply infected and painful wound to his throat so severe that underlying tissue was visible.

Without prompt care, veterinarians warned, he almost certainly would not have survived.

Frankie is a 1‑year‑old mixed‑breed dog whose story has become both a heartbreaking example of animal neglect and an urgent call for compassion. He was discovered on a cold autumn day near Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers, his small body in distress and clearly abandoned.

Those who first found him knew something was terribly wrong — a wound that deep and infected isn’t just a surface injury; it’s a severe trauma that can quickly become fatal without medical intervention.

Rescuers from SPCA Westchester responded immediately after Frankie’s discovery. He was transported straight to a local veterinary hospital, where doctors determined his wound was so deep that underlying tissue was visible through the infected cut.

The injury was painful and serious, requiring emergency surgery that lasted about two hours to clean, repair and begin the long process of healing.

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Dr. Shannon Laukhuf, CEO of SPCA Westchester, noted that while animal abandonment cases have been rising in recent years, it is rare to see an animal left with such a severe injury and infection. Frankie was also found underweight, suggesting neglect even before the injury occurred. Without medical attention — and fast — his prognosis would have been grim.

The surgical team worked to close the wound and address the deep infection, a painstaking process that required skill and patience. Afterward, Frankie was moved into continued veterinary care, where he can heal with antibiotics, pain management and supportive feeding to help him regain weight and strength. Dogs in his condition often need weeks — or longer — of dedicated recovery time to fully rebound.

Beyond his physical injuries, Frankie’s rescue has drawn attention from local law enforcement and animal welfare advocates. Authorities released surveillance footage showing the moments before he was left alone, hoping that viewers might recognize the person responsible and help bring justice for the dog. A Westchester County woman has since been arrested and charged in connection with the abandonment, with officials calling the behavior dangerous and unacceptable.

The charges reflect a growing recognition that abandoning an injured animal isn’t just cruel — it’s a criminal act. Abandonment with the knowledge that an animal could suffer or die can carry serious legal penalties, and advocates hope the case will send a message that neglect and cruelty will not go unnoticed.

Even as Frankie continues his recovery, supporters have rallied around him with updates, encouraging comments and offers to help. Many people online expressed heartbreak over what he endured, but gratitude that he was found before it was too late.

Others pointed out that while not all abandoned animals are discovered in time, every report and rescue effort makes a difference.

Frankie’s journey highlights how far compassion can reach. What started as an act of abandonment — leaving a severely injured dog near a cemetery — became a story of support, rescue, and the possibility of a new life under care rather than neglect.

His recovery isn’t just a medical triumph; it’s a testament to the difference that rapid action, veterinary science, and community awareness can make when an animal’s life hangs in the balance.

For now, Frankie remains under close supervision, strengthening each day. His road ahead includes further healing and, eventually, a transition into a loving environment where he can feel secure, safe and cherished — a future drastically different from where his story began.