On 19 July 2025, French police intervened at a residence in the Marseille region and rescued an 11-year-old dog found in a critical condition.
Tied up in full sun at the bottom of a garden, the dog had numerous open wounds, skull fractures, and severe breathing difficulties.
His owner had died just days earlier
According to initial findings, his ordeal began a few days earlier when his owner passed away. Tyson, an elderly dog, had been handed over by the family to a private individual described by neighbours as unstable. Within just a few days, he had suffered repeated abuse.
Investigators describe a particularly violent beating, which, according to initial witness accounts, was triggered simply because the dog had climbed onto a sofa. When police arrived, Tyson was semi-conscious, suffering from hyperthermia, unable to stand, and his skull was covered in blood.
Severe injuries
He was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic, where the diagnosis confirmed the severity of his condition. He had a fractured ear canal, multiple purulent abscesses on his sunburnt skull, nasal bleeding, a swollen and painful abdomen, and numerous old scars around his lips. The vets began intensive care treatment as soon as he was admitted. Tyson remains hospitalised and is still very weak.
Meanwhile, police opened an investigation which quickly led to the suspect's arrest. During the intervention, a second dog was discovered at the suspect's home: a Shepherd cross, who neighbours claim had also been beaten in the past. This animal was removed and placed in safety with a temporary foster family. The case remains ongoing, but the veterinary teams and rescue organisations involved praise the efficiency of the police: despite a potentially dangerous situation, officers acted with composure and professionalism. Tyson is now beginning a long recovery process.
