Animal control officers rescued an injured sheep found running along an Essex County street that officials suspect was bought for a sacrifice.

The sheep was being cared for at Popcorn Park Animal Refuge after being rescued in Orange two weeks ago, the organization said Monday.

Named Rudy for the officer who caught him, the animal had balloons on strings tied to his tail and ear tag, and a portion of wool had been sheared off his back, according to the animal refuge.

Two weeks ago the animal control officer in the city of Orange called to let us know he had corralled a small sheep he... Posted by Popcorn Park Animal Refuge on Monday, March 25, 2019

Residents near where he was found told an animal control officer that the sheep was purchased for a “sacrificial ritual,” Popcorn Park said in a statement.

“Luckily this little guy escaped and was found by Rudy and the next day morning was brought down to Popcorn Park,” the group said in a social media post. “An exam showed a severely ulcerated cornea of his right eye laceration of his ear and just plain disheveled.”

Animal rescuers treated the sheep’s wounds with antibiotic injections, but first feared Rudy had permanent eye damage, according to the organization.

“By the next Friday he had sight again, his ear was healing and he made fast friends of the two staff members who treated him, eagerly waiting for them to come to treat his eye and crying when they had to leave to feed and clean other animals in the park. He was a great patient,” the post said.

Popcorn Park said it would introduce Rudy to other smaller goats and sheep at the park when his quarantine time is over.

An Orange police spokesman said he was checking for details on the incident Monday night. More information on the circumstances that led to Rudy’s injuries was not immediately available.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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