MOHAWK — A Herkimer County man has been charged with abandoning Miracle the dog at the Herkimer County Humane Society, according to the New York State Police.

Troopers said Paul-Carlos Palenzuela, 58, of Frankfort, has been charged with two counts of failure to provide proper sustenance to an animal and one count of abandoning an animal. He was taken into custody in Utica Tuesday afternoon and was released on an appearance ticket to German Flatts Town Court.

Authorities said Palenzuela drove to the Humane Society on Route 5S at about 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and abandoned a pit bull dog in the parking lot. Authorities said Palenzuela immediately drove away and the dog fled into the woods, after being struck by a passing car on the highway.

Temperatures dipped far below freezing overnight while volunteers searched for the abandoned dog. Authorities said she was found the following afternoon huddled under some shrubbery, having suffered various wounds and ailments.

The Herkimer County Humane Society named the dog "Miracle" and she has been placed with a foster home to recover. Humane Society officials said Miracle showed signs of overbreeding.

Troopers said they received a tip that the suspect vehicle was spotted on Court Street and Utica and they found Palenzuela. During questioning, troopers said Palenzuela claimed he picked up the dog in Ilion on Feb. 2 and then dropped her off that same afternoon because he could not care for the dog.