A MIRACLE dog has stunned animal cruelty investigators by wagging its tail again after being horrifically tortured and set on fire.
Bruce the dog’s injuries were so appalling that it looked like he would have to be put to sleep as it was feared he would never recover from being stabbed with a piece of wood embedded with nails and then torched.
The four-year-old bull lurcher – a breed used for illegal hunting – stunned RSPCA investigators and vets with the level of cruelty he had suffered.
Besides having an eye bulging from its socket, several skull fractures and a broken jaw, Bruce’s tail had been burned and he was also extremely skinny when he was found wandering on the outskirts of Carlisle five weeks ago.
After veterinary scans and reports from foster carers that Bruce is happy and enjoying life, he was today described as a walking miracle by the RSPCA chief inspector investigating the appalling attack.
Chief Inspector Rob Melloy said: “To say we are relieved by the feedback from vets is an understatement. It’s nothing short of a miracle really.
“He can’t yet open his mouth fully but is otherwise doing everything a healthy dog does which is amazing given all he’s been through.
“Some other specialists are looking over the scans and further surgery may be an option down the line, and if this is in his interest, this will happen.”
At one stage, Chief Inspector Melloy was concerned Bruce faced such a poor quality of life by being in constant pain he might have to to put to sleep on welfare grounds.
A dog warden had initially collected Bruce after he had been found wandering the streets as if he was a stray. Quick checks revealed he was in a terrible condition and was rushed to a nearby vets and the RSPCA alerted.
Chief Inspector Melloy added: “I have never seen a dog in this kind of state in my 20 year career at the RSPCA.
“He had a swollen, protruding eye and a deep hole in the top of his skull. His face was bloodied and battered, his skull fractured in several places and his jaw broken, and his tail had been burned. He was also very skinny.
“We believe he had either been beaten with a screwdriver or a piece of wood with a nail hammered into it, giving him the severe puncture wounds and nasty eye injury which had then become infected and had to be removed. The fur and skin around his rear end and tail were burned as if someone had tried to set him on fire.
“Shockingly, it’s thought he’d been like that for three or four days before he was found.”
The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information about what happened to Bruce to contact its confidential appeals line on 0300 123 8018.
Chief Inspector Melloy said: “It’s very disappointing that we haven’t found who did this so far, and while we’re thrilled that Bruce is now able to move into the next chapter in his life, this case is not closed."