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A group of animals lovers is banding together on Facebook to save Harlingen's 'Champ The Pitbull.'

Champ is being held at the Harlingen Humane Society while owner Jose Gonzales is facing an animal cruelty charge for punching the young pitbull.

Since Action 4 News aired a story about Champ on Monday night, The Harlingen Humane Society has fielded phone calls from as far away as New York to spare the dog from being euthanized.

Champ is on a 10-day quarantine at the shelter and pending a judge's decision, he could be given away to a rescue group that specializes with abused animals.

Animal lovers launched a Facebook page to support Champ and it already had about 1,000 fans around midday Wednesday.