'Bright Eyes' cruelty case on the mend

Bright Eyes - pictured with an SPCA carer - is back on her feet. Photo / supplied

An abandoned emaciated dog, the subject of one of the "worst cases" of animal negligence the Auckland SPCA has seen, is on the mend.

However the SPCA is no closer to finding who was responsible for mistreating the dog.

Bright Eyes, a Staffordshire-cross, was found abandoned in a cardboard box at the end of a driveway in Alfriston Road, Manurewa, on January 27.

The dog was so emaciated it could not stand, its bones were showing and its claws were seriously overgrown.

SPCA Auckland chief executive Christine Kalin said Bright Eyes is now eating and standing.

According to the vet, the animal's weight has increased by 50 percent and her fur is starting to grow back.

"When a dog has been emaciated it takes a while to build up her condition," Ms Kalin said.

"She's able to go for short walks outside with staff."

Bright Eyes' recovery is expected to be slow, but once she gets strong enough she will be put into special foster care, with the possibility of being re-homed in the future.

"We will continue to do everything we can to bring about a good outcome for a wee puppy that went through something it never should have gone through."

Unfortunately Ms Kalin said the SPCA is no closer to finding who was responsible for mistreating and abandoning the dog.

"We've followed up on a couple of leads but nothing that has helped identify the person responsible," she said.

"Even at this late stage if information came forward we would act on it.

"For us it is about justice for that wee puppy."