An Alberta animal rescue group is caring for a poodle that was found with casts on its two front legs, abandoned on the side of a highway.

The dog, now named "Afroman," is believed to be a six-month-old purebred poodle that originally came from a backyard breeder.

A man from the Morley reserve found the dog abandoned alongside a bag of food on a road near the Stoney Nakoda community in the middle of the night, and brought him to Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue in Canmore.

"It's not unusual for backyard breeder types to dump dogs in the country, all over North America after puppyhood," Rory O'Neill, founder of Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue, told CTV Calgary. "It's because they don't make any money out of it."

O'Neill said the case was particularly unusual, because it's clear that the poodle was cared for, to some extent.

"Someone sort of cared for him, but not very much," she said, noting Afroman's casts and the bag of dog food that was left with him.

The small shaggy-haired dog can walk around and play on his casts, but has to take breaks due to pain, O'Neill said. His tail is also broken.

A vet still needs to examine Afroman, but O’Neill believes his injuries are recent.

For the time being, the dog is staying with a foster family. Once he is recovered and his temperament is evaluated, the rescue group will find him a permanent home.

This shouldn't be a problem, O’Neill said.

"He is really good with kids, he is affectionate and really sweet," she said. "The kind of dog anyone would like."

With a report from CTV Calgary's Kathy Le