LEWISTON — While Motto the Chihuahua was recovering Thursday, police and shelter officials were in search of the person who originally owned the dog, which was found in a downtown trash can earlier in the week.

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society announced a reward of $500 for information that leads to Motto’s owner.

The dog was found in a trash bin on Bates Street, investigators said.

“Motto was thrown out with the trash, left to suffer until he was found and brought to us for emergency care,” shelter officials wrote on their Facebook page. “Upon arriving it was noticed that Motto had a rotting odor and was foaming at the mouth.”

The dog was taken to Auburn veterinarian Dr. Stephen Kinney, who determined that Motto had a “cruel case of dental disease. The inside of his mouth was one big ulcer and all of his teeth were rotting away.

“This was the worst case of dental neglect I have ever seen,” Kinney said.

According to the shelter page: “Motto had all of his teeth removed, is receiving multiple mouth cleanings a day, and will be on a special diet until his mouth is healed. It was determined that this sweet little fellah is in his older years, and once healed should be able to live out a great retirement life.”

Anyone with information about Motto’s owner is asked to call Lewiston police or Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout. Both can be reached through the dispatch center at 784-6422.

Strout said tipsters can leave their information anonymously.

Motto the Chihuahua: How to help

Call 784-6422 with information about the dog’s owner.

If you would like to donate to Motto’s medical care, you can do so here: gahumane.org/node/4045 and note “for Motto” in the comment section.