ST. CLAIR COUNTY, AL (WIAT)---It's a case of severe animal cruelty in St. Clair County…A dog found stabbed, shot and left for dead.

The dog’s name is Major, a four-year-old Rottweiler mix, who you might say is lucky to be alive.

"It was just sheer disbelief that someone could get so personal to want to hurt an animal so gravely,” said Gary Long, Major’s owner.

Stab wounds, gunshot holes and stitches cover Major’s body... the bloody proof of a brutal attack.

It’s been just over a week since Major was found shot, stabbed, and mutilated and while he's expected to recover, they say he'll always walk with a limp.

But a limp is the least of his owner's worries. Gary Long would like to know just who tortured his dog.

"They got an evil heart. They got a real evil heart and if they'll do this to a dog, I wonder if they'd do it to a child if they got mad enough. I mean, what motivates a person to be like this?" said Long. 

Long contends that major is friendly and would never harm a soul. He says he’s a big dog with a gentle heart that didn't deserve to be hurt.

“Major’s gonna make it through this. He’s not going to be the same dog. He’s going to permanently have this mutilation but we love him and he'll make it and they've got to live with it. Whoever did this."

It’s a question that remains to be answered... a mystery he hopes will be solved.

If you have any information regarding this animal cruelty case, you are urged to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 594-2140.