Animal Charity of Ohio is dealing with an "unprecedented" case of animal cruelty involving minors.

According to the animal charity, three juvenile suspects stabbed a dog in the backyard of Youngstown home on Sunday.  

Animal Charity Coordinator Jane MacMurchy says three juvenile suspects, aged 5, 7, and 12 stabbed Nico, a Cane Corso, on Sunday at a home on Helena Avenue.

"We were shocked," said MacMurchy. "When the suspects came out everyone was shocked, the police, our agents, it was unprecedented," said MacMurchy. 

MacMurchy says the suspects were able to gain access to the dog through a gap in the backyard fencing, and that the suspects had stabbed the dog multiple times. 

When the animal charity arrived on scene, they said Nico was bleeding profusely, and was losing a lot of blood. 

Nico was taken to an animal hospital in Girard, and was then transported to an animal hospital in Akron on Monday. 

The animal charity is covering the costs of Nico's medical bills, due to Nico and his owners being the victims of a crime, per the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit. 

MacMurchy says that usually with a case like this, the suspects would be facing felony charges, but since the suspects are so young, she's unsure how they will proceed. 

"This would usually result in felony charges, but we're unsure of what will happen because of the age of the suspects," said MacMurchy. 

The Animal Charity of Ohio is taking donations to help with Nico's medical bills, you can donate at the charity's website here.