Having cheated death, Kermit would like nothing more than to chase a ball around for hours.

And that's why Bill Hutchison, communications manager with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, tries to quench the dog's obsession with a red ball, tossing it gently around an outside play area of the shelter's intake kennels.

"He's quite a retriever," Mary Martin, the shelter's executive director, yells through the piercing wind, outside the run's cyclone fence.

"He's amazing," Hutchison replies, tossing the ball again and again.

What's more amazing, Hutchison notes, is the dog's zest for life, despite the German shepherd mix's history. "There are two types of dogs," Hutchison said. Some that are so beaten down they will simply give up, and those willing to fight for survival.

"He's a dog that wants to live," Hutchison said. "He's going to make it."

On Tuesday, Santa Fe County Animal Control officers found Kermit wandering the streets outside Madrid. The starving dog was brought to the shelter, where veterinarians immediately began assessing his condition — severe malnutrition. Blood samples were also taken to determine if the dog's hair loss and skin condition is related to more than just lack of food.

Placed on a bland diet, shelter workers are hoping to get Kermit's weight back up. At just over
36 pounds, the dog is about half the weight he should be for his size and age, estimated to be about 5 or 6.

"He's a wreck," Martin said. "You don't get that skinny in less than two months."

Although shepherds are known to lose hair because of stress, it's also a sign of extreme malnutrition, Hutchison said. Without nutrition, the body begins to consume muscle mass. It can also effect an animal's organs.

Seen from afar, Kermit could be mistaken for a crazed feral animal, bones sticking out from a mostly hairless torso. But the dog remains trusting of people and is quick to obey commands.

"He's super sweet," Hutchison said, tossing the red ball yet again. Kermit, named by the shelter staff, hustles for the ball, his body swaying with the strong wind.

Just how Kermit ended up in his condition is a mystery. But shelter workers have seen similar animals before, although none quite in Kermit's shape. The dog was surely someone's pet, Hutchison said, because he's conditioned to be around humans.

Most likely, the owner left the area, leaving the dog to fend for himself. Perhaps the owner thought someone would free the dog from wherever he was being held. The dog had access to water, apparently, but not food.

It's not an unusual scenario, Hutchison said.

"We get a lot of animals from people who've moved out of their apartment or house and have just left the animal," Hutchison said. "A lot of times, the landlord will find the animal. Sometimes no one finds them and they just starve to death."

The shelter also receives plenty of strays that have wandered the streets and arroyos for weeks, able to fend for themselves, he said. That wasn't Kermit's fate.

"This is a pronounced case," Hutchison said. "This guy was with someone who took care of him at some time, but whatever the situation, he wasn't able to get food. This is what makes us feel he was neglected or abandoned."

But the dog hasn't lost his spirit. He is so enthusiastic, Hutchison said, that his tail had to be bandaged, because he beat it against the kennel wall, excited about seeing people.

Without fat as a cushioning, the tail quickly became a bloody mess.

Regaining his health is Kermit's priority at the moment, Hutchison said, something that will likely take up to eight weeks. He'll remain at the shelter for close observation for at least another week, and then perhaps find care with a foster family.

After that, Kermit could be lucky enough to find a family that can look beyond the dog's outward appearance. That and be willing to toss a ball now and then. If any dog deserves a bit of attention, it's Kermit.

A $500 reward is being offered to information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Kermit's neglect. Call or leave a message with Hutchison at 983-4309, ext. 139. Callers can remain anonymous.

Donations are also being sought to help offset medical costs, Hutchison said.