An adorable found wandering the streets after she was a victim of a "heinous act of " has "America's saddest face," say social media users.

Lavender was discovered with wounds to her face and ears, injuries so severe one of her ears had to be intentionally cut off at a rescue centre. The pup also had fractured teeth and was also severely underweight.

But Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS), a charity in Menands, New York, has taken care of Lavender, and, when she is well enough, wants to help find her the perfect forever home. It has branded her last owner's acts as "heinous" and "cruel" as law enforcement suspect Lavender was a victim of animal cruelty.

Authorities in Menands, which is near the city of Albany, have released fresh information - and upsetting photographs - of the brown dog in an effort to establish exact details about her history.

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The release was shared on social media this week, where dog lovers have expressed their anger at the previous owner - and adorement at the cute pooch. In the photographs, it is apparent Lavender had suffered injuries at the hands of the "heinous" owner.

One user said: "What a sweet little girl. So sad she has been abused and still looks so sweet!!! Fingers crossed the evil person who did this is punished. Poor baby." Another posted: "Abuse of animals = life in prison. Simple. Getting tired of seeing every platform of social media plastered with the saddest faces of these animals that go through this because people are not afraid due to lack of consequences."

Another said: "Stories like this make me sick to my stomach. How could someone do this... And look at her sweet face." A further user added: "By the looks of that poor girl, she's probably been abused her whole life. She looks so sad, so scared. My heart breaks in pieces time after time seeing such cruelty. I can only hope this sweet girl has the best of everything."

The Schenectady Police Animal Control Officers, Schenectady Police Detectives and Humane Law Officers from the MHHS are investigating the case.

The Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that helps stray, abused, and unwanted animals. The organisation also fosters animals and helps place them in safe homes. In New York, someone who is found guilty of animal cruelty can be jailed for up to a year or forced to pay a fine of up to $1,000 (£775).

But animal cruelty activists have pushed for harsher sentences, as an estimated 10 million animals are abused to death every year, according to the World Animal Foundation.