Wednesday the 1st of November is a public holiday in the region of Var, southeast France. But there was no holiday in sight for rescue workers of John Protection Animale.
A walker had come across the most shocking scene in the woods, and she urgently needed help from the experts.
The most shocking cruelty
The kind walker called the animal protection scene having found a dog abandoned in the forest. But as if abandonment itself wasn't enough, the dog's owner had gone to the cruelest lengths to leave his pet totally helpless.
Arriving on site, the rescue team found an emaciated Rottweiler tied to a tree. It was clear he had been there for some time. To make matters worse, the owner had muzzled the dog, leaving him incapable of fending for himself.
An urgent rescue
Immediately taken to safety, the Rottweiler was examined by a veterinarian, who confirmed he had been living like this for between 3 to 5 days. It was incredible he managed to survive!
Thanks to his microchip, the dog's original owner was tracked down. But, claiming he gave him away a year ago, the search to find the last known owners is ongoing.
Heartbreakingly, the poor pup has shown signs of abuse since arriving at the shelter. It seems he may have been trained as an attack dog, and while rescue staff are making sure he's properly cared for, he has a long road of recovery and rehabilitation ahead of him before he can go up for adoption.
