Dog was tied up, dumped and left to die

Aug 14 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

STARVED, tied up in a bin bag, dumped on a Dumfries roundabout and left for dead.

This is the sickening story of a “good natured” dog which was facing a slow and painful death after being abandoned by its evil owner.

Only by sheer luck was the lurcher discovered at Garroch Loaning on Tuesday when council workers cutting shrubbery on the site heard whimpering noises.

The quick thinking staff rushed the dog to the town’s Bard Vets where it was yesterday recovering from the horrific ordeal.

Vet Roger Lever told the Standard: “It looked like something out of a concentration camp when it came in.

“It is one of the worst cases like this I have ever seen in this area.”

Scottish SPCA officials have now launched an urgent appeal to trace the cruel people who left the poor animal to rot.

The female dog is said to be around six years old and was found inside the bag, underneath some bushes on the roundabout just outside the Garroch business park at around 11am.

The black bin liner had been tightly secured at the top.

Many of the group of council workers were in tears when it was discovered that a dog was cramped inside, lying in a pool of diarrhoea.

One of them, Karen Gilles, who drove it to the vet, told the Standard: “There was not much of it, it was like a skeleton.

“It had diarrhoea and had wet itself.

“I just picked it up and ran to the van and took it straight to the vet.

“I thought they would just put it to sleep. I would only have given it a five to 10 per cent chance of survival.

“I have two dogs of my own; to see this was sickening.”

The dog was treated by Mr Lever at the vets as an urgent emergency.

It was cleaned, checked over and kept under supervision.

“She was in a pretty bad way when she first came in,” he said.

“She was extremely dehydrated and was probably half the weight she should be.

“She had a damaged tail as well.

“We are hoping, with reservations, that she will make a full recovery.

“She would have taken days to die had she not been found.

“No-one can understand why anyone would do that.”

Updating the situation yesterday afternoon, Mr Lever, said: “Her condition is improving, she can stand and walk a short distance and is eating and drinking well.

“We are making good progress.”

Tests are now being carried out to find out why the dog is having diarrhoea as there may be some underlying health condition.

Scottish SPCA Inspector Janet Proudlock said: “We can only presume that someone has carried her on to the roundabout wrapped inside the bin bags and dumped her in the middle of the undergrowth.

“Whoever did this can expect to be banned from keeping animals and they could face a fine of up to £5,000, six months in prison or both.”

Anyone with information on the dog should contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

But, after the ordeal, the dog could be set for a happiness thanks to kind vet Mr Lever who said he would probably be taking it home once it recovers.

“It is a very good natured dog and has been wagging its tail,” he added.

Mr Lever is looking for a name for the dog and is asking Standard readers for help.

Anyone with an idea for a name should contact the newspaper on 01387 240332 or sign into our forums below to leave one.

http://forums.dgstandard.co.uk/

You can also see pictures of the dog below.