LANCASTER, Ohio -- A dog in Ohio needs major surgery and a new home after being dumped at a humane society last month.

Sugar was left at the Fairfield Area Humane Society. Her face is deformed and her jaw is locked shut. Her tongue hangs out of the only open space in her mouth, and she can only eat liquid food.

Humane agents said they want to send Sugar to The Ohio State University for surgery that would allow her to eat normally, but the procedure costs about $2,500.

"She has to have liquid food, like a milk shake, and she laps it up. When she drinks, she sticks her face under the water and sucks it up," said Bill Huffman, a humane officer. "It's going to be an involved procedure and it's going to be expensive."

The shelter said that Sugar was dumped there after hours and may be the worst abuse case the shelter has ever seen. The Web site said Sugar has suffered severe injuries to her skull, making her head and face deformed. Her jaw is broken and she cannot open it -- not even to eat. It said many of her teeth have been broken out.

The shelter workers believe that whatever happened to Sugar happened several months ago because the bones have fused and healed together. This also means her jaw has been broken for months, which is why her bones are showing through her skin, the shelter said.

A story about Sugar ran in an Ohio newspaper, but everything changed last Monday morning when two women showed up at the humane society claiming to be the dog's owner.

Humane agents said they will talk to prosecutors to determine whether charges can be filed.

Until then, humane agents are trying to raise money for the dog's surgery.

Anyone who would like to help can contact the Fairfield Area Humane Society at 1721 Granville Pike in Lancaster, by phone at 740-687-0627 or by visiting its Web site.