WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES

A woman has been charged after she was accused of intentionally starving her ex-boyfriend's dog.

Rescuers found the emaciated dog "close to death" when they discovered him tied up in a Carolina backyard.

Investigators said Elizabeth James was feeding her own dog, but refused to feed her former boyfriend's dog Champ because she was mad at him.

James starved Champ for an entire month, leaving the rottweiler-mastiff cross covered in maggots, extremely malnourished, and close to death.

"He is weak with very pale gums, and he was covered in maggots, even in his mouth!" Rescue Dogs Rock NYC wrote on Facebook.

"This is animal abuse!"

He was rescued Thursday after a passerby spotted him tied up and alerted authorities.

A vet said the 16-month-old dog should weigh around 50kg, but was currently just 23kg.

Champ could not stand on his own and needed blood transfusions, Animal Control said.

Rescue Dogs Rock NYC said: "Champ was transferred to our vet midday where he immediately started getting a blood transfusion. He was so pale with white gums that this was an obvious need. His bloodwork, as expected, is bad. His protein levels are too low as was his red blood cell count & of course he was very anaemic & LOADED with hookworms.

"The hookworm burden was so high, the vet says his stomach is filled with tons of tiny bleeding ulcers. His blood has to be able to regenerate itself to combat this which it currently is not doing.

"We do not know if Champ can be saved or if we are in time, but we can promise you we will fight like hell for him to give this young majestic dog the life he deserves.

"If he makes it, he has a very long road back, so please keep the donations & prayers coming. He needs both!"

James has been charged with ill treatment of animals and will face court next month.