Man on mission to save abandoned animals rescues dog in vacant North Philadelphia home

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A dog was abandoned inside a vacant home for at least two weeks, trapped inside a crate with no food or water.

But on Saturday, a man who's made it his mission to save the most vulnerable among us, made the rescue.

"It's not fair. That's all. I wouldn't wish it on no one, let alone a dog," said Ramon Rodriguez.

He gets emotional talking about what he found inside a home abandoned by addicts in his North Philadelphia neighborhood.

Rodriguez recorded as he saw a pit bull locked in a cage without food or water, and living in his own waste. He believes the animal had been there for two weeks.

"When I opened the cage, he didn't even do nothing. He just licked me," said Rodriguez.

He says he was tipped off about the dog Friday night. Around here he's known for saving all sorts of animals, all of them abused or forgotten by their addicted owners. Many of the animals are living in his home.

"Addiction is wiping everything away. Humanity is gone," said Rodriguez.

The dog, now named Diesel, seems to be healthy and friendly.

Rodriguez is now hoping to find him a home.

"I kind of have an idea of what it's like to be in a cage, so that's why it's my mission to try to get them out of a cage," he said. "It's not a good feeling to be locked up. He had no choice."

The Pennsylvania SPCA has picked up Diesel and will evaluate him and, if all goes well, put him up for adoption.

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