NATCHEZ — City of Natchez Animal Control Officer Randy Meyers thought he was stopping on West Stiers Lane to pick up the carcass of a dead animal.

But when he walked toward it, that carcass wagged its tail.

“He saw her lying by the side of the road,” said Sarah Wees, director of operations at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. “As soon as he got near her, she started wagging her tail.”

But that’s about all the clearly abused and neglected, young female pit bull could do. The dog was so malnourished, she could not walk, Wees said.

Meyers delivered the dog to the Natchez Humane Society about mid-day on Friday.

“She weighs 21.4 pounds. She should easily weigh 35 to 40 pounds,” she said. “She is basically a skeleton that is being held together with skin.”

The dog, who the Humane Society staff has named Blossom, was taken to Natchez Veterinary Clinic, where she is under the care of Dr. Shirani Hickman.

Blossom was in immediate need of a blood transfusion, which she received this afternoon, thanks to a donor dog, another female pit bull, also an alumna of the Humane Society.

Linda Kennon, a receptionist at the Natchez Veterinary Clinic, adopted the blood donor dog from the Humane Society three years ago and named her Pink.

When Kennon saw Blossom in such need Friday, she offered up the services of Pink and her blood.

“Pink was also emaciated and suffering from a horrible skin condition when she was brought to the shelter. She had no hair. She was this pink shriveled up dog with big blue eyes. I fell in love with her and adopted her,” Kennon said.

Thanks to that blood transfusion, Hickman said Blossom is no longer in critical condition, but is stable, able to stand for short periods of time and has eaten a little.

“She’s doing much better. After the blood transfusion, her gums are pink instead of white,” Hickman said. “She has a long way to go, but she’s stable now.”

Hickman said Blossom hadn’t been fed and had intestinal parasites. In addition, someone had tried to clip Blossom’s ears at home and botched the job. Blossom’s ears are infected.

“We didn’t do a lot of cleaning them up today. We’ll do more of that once she’s feeling better,” Hickman said. “This dog is so sweet. She has a great attitude, even though she’s not feeling well.”

Hickman said she will remain at the clinic over the weekend, but should be able to go into foster care as early as Monday. After foster care, Blossom will need a loving forever home.

Blossom’s veterinary care needs will be extensive and expensive, and the Humane Society has set up a fund at Natchez Veterinary Clinic for those who may wish to donate to help fund Blossom’s care.

“We are going to keep the account open at the clinic and call it Blossom’s fund. Any funds that come in will be used to help treat other animals that come to the Natchez Humane Society needing treatment,” Wees said.

“Blossom has clearly been abused, straight up. She was not just neglected. I would just say with everything she’s been through, it’s a real testament to her spirit that she wags her tail when she sees us. And that’s why we do what we do.”