In Jurupa Valley, California, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services first took custody of Jimmy, the German shepherd.

According to John Welsh, the shelter’s animal services chief, on Feb. 17, 2019, when Jimmy, an 8-month-old, arrived at the shelter, he weighed just 23 pounds. The emaciated animal was discovered in a pet-safe compartment of a shelter’s after-hours dropbox.

We believe Jimmy was brought to us by Good Samaritans, a woman, and a man. At first, we believed the dog was being abandoned or dumped, but the woman had Jimmy wrapped in a blanket, which led us to believe they were really doing the right thing,” Welsh told PEOPLE about Jimmy’s arrival.

Jimmy was immediately treated at the shelter after he was found. He was given a lot of gruels to eat and was hooked up to an IV.

He immediately began to feel better after eating the gruel and taking the IV fluids. In a few days, he gained four pounds. His weight had increased by about 7 pounds by Friday, Feb. 22, when he was adopted,” Welsh said.

A couple in Santa Ynez, California, were attracted to Jimmy because of a Facebook post. Bonnie and John Adams have adopted Jimmy, renamed Maverick, after driving three hours to Jurupa Valley.

Maverick is thriving in his new home, which provides plenty of room to run, toys, nutritious meals, and nurturing love. Those interested in following Maverick’s second chance have created a Facebook page for him.

Welsh thinks people will take some hope from this story that no matter how badly treated a dog is, it will warm up to someone who offers it food, warmth and love, no matter how badly they have been treated,” Welsh said of what he hopes other people will take from Maverick’s story.