A Trumbull County owner of a dog has been charged after shelter workers and police found the dog with a large, ruptured mass.

A Facebook post from Cooke said the dog was found in the Warren Township area early Friday afternoon.

Nicholas, a shepherd mix, is now recovering after a major surgery to remove the massive growth from his neck in recent days.

Humane agents say he's in better spirits now, but 48 hours ago, it was a different story.

The growth had been forming for potentially months and could be cancerous, according to Jason Cooke, President & CEO of Healthy Hearts and Paws Project. Still, he's hoping it's localized and treatable.

"It was really heartbreaking," he said. 

Police charged former owner, 61-year-old Rick Mason of Leavittsburg, with "Torture, deprive of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or beat," a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Neighbors say they became concerned and talked with Mason about giving up the dog as one neighbor called humane agents. Cooke says this didn't happen overnight and that the vets involved say the growth was painful for the dog.

"This is something that any owner would be well aware of is happening with this animal," he said, "and evidently, this person took no steps to remedy the situation."

He adds there are options for pet owners who need help treating their animals; call your local shelters, start a fundraiser, or go online and find assistance.

"Instead of it being a $14 to $1,500 surgery, if he had done this in the beginning, it could have maybe just been a couple $100," he said, "and the dog wouldn't have had to go through all of that, that that pain and suffering."

Attorney Mike Yacovone says under Ohio law, when you take in an animal, you assume all responsibilities to ensure the pet is properly treated, but the court will have to weigh the circumstances in this case.

Mason is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning. 

Cooke said Nicholas' surgery was a success, and soon enough, he will be up for adoption to find a new family.