Metro

‘Ruff’ian hunted in Long Island dog abuse: Heartless thug tossed puppy from speeding car after using him as dogfighting bait

A heartless criminal tossed an adorable puppy from a speeding car after using him as bait in a dogfight, and now animal-rights activists are offering a reward to capture the abuser.

Joey, a 1-year-old pit-bull mix, was a discovered severely wounded and whimpering inside a trash bag next to Pilgrim State Psychiatric Facility in Brentwood, LI, last Aug. 11.

At first, veterinarians thought euthanization was the only choice, said Lynda Loudon, 38, one of the vets who treated him.

But then Joey looked up and wagged his tail, prompting her to call off the injection, adopt him and nurse him back to health.

The Suffolk County SPCA is now offering a $27,000 reward for clues leading to a conviction.