Animal aid workers have said a dog found tied to the gates of Twycross Zoo on New Year's Day in temperatures below zero is lucky to have survived.
Staff at the Leicestershire zoo who found the female Rottweiler believe she was abandoned on the evening of 31 December.
She was hypothermic, underweight and very scared when she was found.
As the dog had no identification, it was unknown who she belonged to or how she came to be abandoned.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council's dog warden took the animal to a local rescue centre.
General manager of Leicester and Leicestershire Animal Aid Keely Short said: "I will never understand how anyone could leave a dog in such a way.
"It was so cold that evening, she was lucky to survive the -4C temperature, with no shelter.
"She was so frightened and exhausted it took nearly 12 hours for her to find the energy to eat."
The centre is now appealing for anyone who recognises the dog to get in touch.
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