Animal Advocacy of Mercer and Crawford Counties Inc., a Sharon-based adoption and rescue agency, is seeking donations to help pay medical bills for an abandoned poodle with cancer.

Gerda Widmyer, the agency’s owner, has been caring for the dog, which she named Dutchess, since July 10, when a family found her in bad shape in front of their home on state Route 318 in Shenango Township.

Mrs. Widmyer believes Dutchess was someone’s pet because she’s housebroken and likes people.

The poodle is slowly recovering from open sores, fleas, an eye infection, starvation and mammary gland cancer, she said.

Dutchess also has a tumor on her back and Mrs. Widmyer has yet to find out if it’s cancerous.

She lost a good amount of fur, she said.

Mrs. Widmyer expects bills for veterinary care, surgery and medicine to reach $400 to $600. She hopes the dog will be well enough in about a month to find a new home. Donations can be sent to the agency at 285 Sherman Ave., Sharon 16146. For more information, call Mrs. Widmyer at 724-347-3468.