Ill-treated pup bounces back

Anzac the injured dog looks to a brighter future thanks to Rotorua's SPCA, including manager Eve Johnson. Photo / Andrew Warner

She'd been chained up so tightly for weeks on end that the chain had embedded in her neck and almost killed her, but wee Anzac hasn't let that affect her spirit.

The mastiff cross was in such a state when she was discovered that bolt cutters were needed to cut her free and a vet had to surgically remove the chain from her neck.

While Rotorua SPCA manager Eve Johnson said it might be shocking to the public, it was just one of the animal abuse cases the Rotorua centre dealt with on a weekly basis. But she said the good news was that despite her ordeal, the puppy had bounced back and spurred a public outcry after her story was put on the SPCA's Facebook page.

The Facebook page included pictures of Anzac with the chain, which the Rotorua Daily Post decided not to publish because of their graphic nature.

Mrs Johnson said seeing the way the dog had recovered was what prompted staff to carry on doing the jobs they did.

"She is just beautiful. She has bounced back and realised there is quite a lot of love around."

Mrs Johnson said what the dog had been through was "just horrendous". It was likely the puppy hadn't been off the chain for four to five weeks, and was chained up most of her life. They think she is about 3 or 4 months old.

The chain hadn't been made bigger to accommodate the growing puppy, so had embedded itself in the dog's neck. It was about 1cm away from the jugular vein, which meant the dog was about a week away from dying.

The dog has been at the centre for just over a week and Mrs Johnson said staff and volunteers were spending plenty of time with her, teaching her basic commands and how to play.

"What she wasn't used to was playing."

Mrs Johnson said they were talking to a man who was interested in taking her to live at his farm. "I don't think we will have any problem rehoming her. She just needs some TLC."

The SPCA is investigating who was responsible for leaving Anzac chained up.