Criminal charges are expected to be filed later Thursday against two men who Lower Swatara Township police say conspired to kill "one tough dog."

Police found a

near Rosedale Avenue and Stoner Drive.

Detective Robert Appleby said the dog suffered two stabbed wounds to the neck and was taken to the Londonderry Animal Hospital, where it is expected to make a full recovery.

The names of the suspects were not immediately released by police. Appleby said Thursday morning he was in the process of filling out the arrest paperwork.

Police posted pictures of the dog on Facebook and someone recognized it. The tipster gave investigators a name of someone they believed to be its owner.

Detectives went the home of a man in his 40s, who allegedly admitted he was the dog's owner and that he had asked a man who is in his 20s to kill the dog.

Appleby said police then found the younger man, who officers say told them the dog bit him after he attempted to slash its throat the first time.

He said he slashed the dog's throat a second time and left it for dead in the woods, police said.

The dog managed to walk out of the woods and collapsed on the double yellow line of a nearby road, where it was discovered by a passing motorist.

Police found a trail of blood a few hundred yards long leading from road to the woods.

In another miracle, Appleby said the freezing weather caused the dog's wounds to clot and probably saved its life.

"We're talking about one tough dog that just refused to die," Appleby said. "It's pretty amazing."

Animal cruelty and conspiracy charges are expected to be filed against the two men involved, police said.