An abandoned dog is rescued from an island.

Pet rescues are all too often heartbreaking.

Workers from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter along with firefighters recently rescued a severely malnourished dog that had been left behind on a nearby island.

Authorities received a tip that a starving canine was stranded on the isle. Animal care employees were unable to reach the pet initially. That’s when firefighters arrived on scene with an inflatable raft.

Together, they ventured to the island, but the dog could not be found. After about an hour of searching, the dog was located lying in duckweed, and was described as confused and terrifyingly thin.

It is believed the canine had been on the island for about a month and barely survived by eating bird eggs. The dog was taken to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter for care and treatment.

In another rescue story, a male pit-bull was rescued after he was tied to a guardrail on a busy access road in San Antonio. Whoever is responsible for the act used a heavy chain to secure the pet.