The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the county SPCA are asking for the public’s help with a potential animal cruelty case.

Officials say a 1-year-old gray and white pit bull was found inside a black wire cage on a small portion of sand between the bulkhead and the water in Veterans Memorial Park in Highlands. Officials say that the tide was coming in and the water had reached the cage. A good Samaritan spotted the dog and rescued it before it drowned, according to authorities.

Officials say that if the dog had not been taken out of the cage, the tide would have covered it completely.

It is believed that the dog was placed in the area sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday.

Anyone who may have information about the situation is asked to contact the animal cruelty hotline at 1-877-898-7297 or notify the Highlands Police Department at 732-872-1224.