NEW YORK -- A female pit bull living at a Long Island animal shelter needs donations of Viagra to stay alive, according to a spokesperson of the Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center.

Ingrid, 4, was rescued in April after being near death from heartworms, according to Marge Stein, a spokesperson for the shelter.

The shelter sought a vet who suggested giving Viagra a try to keep the dog’s blood vessels open.

“We were really worried she wouldn’t make it,” Stein said during a phone interview with WNBC.com. “There was such a turnaround after or week or so of the Viagra; she just became a new dog. She perked up and was lively, just like any other dog.”

The Adoption Center is now seeking Viagra donations from people in the area to keep Ingrid alive. Stein said the shelter cannot afford to continually pay $10 for each Viagra pill.

“If 200 people could send us just one pill, that would be good for seven months,” Stein said.

Stein said that when Ingrid is adopted, the shelter will provide a lifetime supply of Viagra to the owner.

The shelter is also accepting cash donations to purchase the little blue pills.

“Ingrid is a sweetheart of a dog that anyone would be proud or happy to own,” Stein said.

Ingrid will need one Viagra pill a day for the rest of her life.

For more information, contact the shelter at 516-883-6775.