A 7-month-old puppy who was badly burned and abandoned outside of an animal care facility in November is healing quickly and has found a forever home.

The small terrier mix was treated by the Chula Vista Animal Care in San Diego, California for what appears to have been a chemical burn. "Looks like it was something that dripped down his sides and dripped down his left arm," said veterinarian Juli Maher.

The puppy was nicknamed "Burnie" by the staff. Someone mysteriously dropped him off at the shelter just before Thanksgiving, and since then Burnie has been making remarkable progress. He's not expected to have any long-term mdedical problems and his fur will grow back.

"He's doing great," she said. "He's healed so fast. He healed amazingly fast. We're all shocked."

After several weeks recuperating, staff were worried that the friendly, gentle dog was not getting any potential adopters to step forward. They were concerned that people may have gotten the wrong idea and assumed Burnie would require extensive medical care, or be traumatized, which is not the case. Burnie loves cats, other dogs and people. But they needn't have worried.

When Deboarah Anderson saw Burnie on the news she decided to adopt him.

"I just wanted him to have a home where he was safe and wouldn't have to worry about anything like that again," said Deborah.

Now at home with Deborah and her other puppy Clyde, Burnie is getting along famously with Clyde. "He and Clyde just clicked right away and just played really hard," said Deborah. "We went to take them apart and he didn't want to split up."

Deborah plans on keeping his name too. "There is that dark humor as it is," she said. "Burnie and Clyde have a good ring and he already seems to respond to it."

• San Diego
• California
• Chula Vista Animal Care