CLEWISTON — Clewiston police are looking for a person witnessed throwing a puppy from a moving vehicle at the intersection of Olympia Street and West Aztec Ave. around 7 p.m. July 22.

“A concerned citizen that was driving behind the suspect vehicle actually observed the vehicle door open and the dog actually get tossed out of the moving car,” Clewiston Police Chief Tom Lewis told  NBC2 (WBBH-TV) in Southwest Florida.

The suspect vehicle is a maroon-colored Kia.

Police, along with animal services, were able to secure the puppy near the train tracks and is presently at Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in Jupiter where she is being treated fleas, ticks and bite marks on her face which police speculate may be due to dog fighting.

The NBC2 report said the puppy is approximately 6-months-old and named Noella. A search on the Jupiter adoption clinic does not show results for a dog meeting those descriptions. Representatives of the adoption clinic could not be reached for comment July 27.

“We are working some leads but still need someone in the community to provide information if they know who did this,” Lewis told Lake Okeechobee News.

According to Florida law, the suspect could face fines starting at $2,500 for a first animal abuse offense, and be required to undergo psychological counseling and or anger management treatment.

A bill providing more severe penalties for those found guilty of animal abuse died in the Florida House in March of this year.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,000 award for information leading to an arrest. Anonymous tipsters can call SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or submit tips online.