POOR DOG…Chance the lurcher cross who was found outside a vets with infected wounds
A CO Derry vets is appealing for help in tracing the ghoul who dumped a starved lurcher-greyhound cross covered in “puncture wounds” outside their office.
The dog – renamed Chance – has been described as a “walking scar”.
Badly neglected Chance was left on the road outside Glenshane Vet Clinics Ballynahone Road practice in Maghera around Saturday lunchtime.
The five-year-old dog was in urgent need of emergency care for wounds so infected and numerous the vet couldn’t count them.
Caring veterinary nurse Sarah Lamont said: ““He was just dumped at our entrance and we think he was used for some kind of fighting or hunting as he was covered in puncture wounds.
“It could have been with badgers or foxes.”
But she although the vets have appealed for the owner to come forwar, Sarah added: “I very much doubt they will.”
At 22.6kg, Chance be should around 35 kg
Said Sarah: “He’s just a horrific sight, he’s skin and bones.
“He’s completely covered in scars all over his body from head-to-toe. It’s not just new wounds, he’s got old wounds as well. He’s been starved.
“He’s got a lot of puncture wounds from something that has been attacking him,” she added.
“We’re not really sure what he’s been through.”
And although now in safe and caring hands, Sarah said poor Chance “is not out of the woods just yet”.
“His wounds have become all infected,” she explained.
“He’s being treated with really strong antibiotics, obviously pain relief because he is so sore and we’re having to spoon feed him because he’s just so weak.
“He’s just petrified. Petrified of people,” she went on. “Over the weekend I’ve been dealing with him so he’s got used to me, he’ll eat and stuff from my hands, but he’s just bones.”
If Chance does pull through, Sarah said he will be joining her for a charity walk in Draperstown’s Derrynoid Forest on Sunday, August 16 at 3 pm to help the vets raise money for the many unwanted and neglected dogs that are dumped on its doorstep.
An elderly couple has also offered to give “the sweet and gentle dog” a loving new home if he survives his treatment.
Sarah is appealing for anybody who has seen anything or any vehicles on the road to contact the clinic on 028 796 42279 so they can find who did this to Chance.
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