Champ the mastiff’s weight fell to a dangerous 22kg, less than half what it should be, after Elizabeth James refused to give it food or water for 30 days.
Fortunately neighbours tipped off animal rescuers and they found the 16-month-old pooch tied up in her back yard in Laurens, South Carolina.
Almost every bone in his body was showing through his fur and the poor dog was covered in maggots, the Charlotte Observer reported.
James is reported to have told investigators her ex-boyfriend left Champ in her garden around a month ago.
Investigators said fed her own two dogs during that time but ignored his because “she was mad at him”, according to WYFF.
Captain Chris Martin said: “She intentionally did not feed this dog. This dog was on her property.
“She sees the dog everyday and see his conditions are worse. She could have stepped up, contacted law enforcement, animal control.
“She could have put this dog on Facebook and tried to find a home for the dog. She just chose not to.”
Laurens County Sheriff’s Office has sine charged James for ill treatment of an animal and jailed her on £11,000 bail.
Sheriff Don Reynolds said: “Inhumane treatment of animals will not be tolerated on my watch. No animal should have to go without food and water.”
Champ is currently being cared for at a 24-hour veterinarian clinic in Columbia where he is on a diet of high protein foods including boiled chicken and scrambled eggs.
Rescue Dogs Rock NYC, a Facebook group which shared updates about his condition, said Champ was “left to die”.
In the latest update posted last week, it said: “Champ’s condition definitely improved after yesterdays blood transfusion.”