Staff at a shelter in Georgia have been left devastated after a horrific moment of animal cruelty was revealed by another dog.

Last week, employees at the Floyd County Animal Shelter noticed a large quantity of spoiled meat dumped on a trail behind the facility—a spot frequently used by volunteers and staff to exercise the shelter dogs. Concerned for the safety of the animals, they reported the incident to local authorities, fearing that the tainted meat could harm any unsuspecting dogs that might consume it.

Upon returning to the scene days later to check on the cleanup progress, shelter managers made a grim discovery. As they ventured further up the trail, they were met by a stray pit bull, now named Ludwik, who they loaded into the car to take to the shelter.

But before they could continue, the dog jumped out of the car and ran back to the wood line, barking and growling.

"We knew he was trying to show us something," the rescue said in a post on Facebook. As they followed Ludwik, they were distressed to see another dog hanging dead from a tree.

"We immediately ran over to try and help him but he has been gone for a few days. Ludwik laid beside his dead friend nuzzling it's body with his nose, whimpering and looking at us as if he was saying 'help him, he needs help.' We tried to load Ludwik back up but he refused to leave his friend's side until he was helped," the shelter said.

Despite their own heartbreak over the discovery, Floyd County Shelter Staff took Ludwik to safety where he has since received much-needed care, including treatment for over 100 ticks.

"Please pray for the shelter staff as they have endured so much pain today. They blame themselves, they are devastated," the Facebook post said.

Newsweek reached out to Floyd County Animal Shelter via email for comment.

In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. But while shelter staff continue to work hard to help animals in need, their own health can take a hit.

A 2023 report by Psychology Today revealed that animal control officers are more likely to die by suicide than the general population as they experience high rates of burnout and "compassion fatigue."

The shelter has since appealed to the public for any information that could help to identify anyone responsible for the death of the discovered dog. Online they said that they remain committed to seeking justice for Ludwik and his deceased companion, emphasizing the importance of the correct adoption procedures and responsible pet ownership.

The Floyd County Animal Shelter hopes that by sharing the tragic experience, it can raise awareness about animal cruelty and prevent similar incidents in the future.

"We are determined to find justice for these innocent animals," the shelter said.