Dogs tail cut off!!!

Cruelty probe as dog's tail is cut off

GARETH EDWARDS


A CRUELTY probe has been launched after a malnourished dog was found tied to a fence with its tail chopped off.

Animal welfare officers are now trying to trace the owners of the white German shepherd - which has been nicknamed Frosty - in a bid to determine how the pet ended up with the "absolutely horrific" injury.

The shivering three-year-old dog was discovered by a member of the public tied to a fence outside the Boghall Cricket Ground in Linlithgow.

What remained of its tail was still bleeding and vets think the animal chewed on the stump to try to lessen the pain.

Experts believe Frosty had suffered the wound several days earlier.

It is not clear when or why the dog was tied to the fence, but its fur was matted and it appeared to be malnourished. Frosty is now recovering at the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals centre in Balerno.

SSPCA inspector John Toule, who took Frosty to the vet after being called out to the cricket ground, said the dog’s ten-inch tail appeared to have been "deliberately cut off".

Although the situation is being treated as a suspected case of animal cruelty, officials admitted there was a possibility the dog had lost its tail in an accident.

Mr Toule said: "At the moment we just want to try to find its owners and find out what happened."

Frosty was wearing a brown leather collar and was tied to the fence by a red and black lead.

It is thought Frosty lost most of its tail at least three days before being found last week.

A vet gave the dog antibiotics and removed the stump before the wound was bandaged up. SSPCA officials said it was unlikely the dog’s tail had been cut off by owners attempting to "dock" the animal.

Tail docking is now an illegal act in the UK if carried out by anyone other than a registered veterinary surgeon.

A SSPCA spokeswoman described the possibility that Frosty’s tail had been cut off without anaesthetic as "absolutely horrific".

"Unless we are given information to suggest otherwise, this will be treated as a case of animal cruelty," she said. "While we cannot be absolutely certain what happened, there does not appear to be any reason why the dog would have his tail removed in this way except for a malicious act. There have been cases in the past of some animals having their tails docked at home, but we do not think that is the case this time.

"German shepherds do not have docked tails and Frosty is too old for it to be done."

She added that by the time a dog had reached Frosty’s age they became quite reliant on their tails.

"If it is carried out, docking is done at birth so the dog never gets used to having a tail," she said.

"By the time they are three, they will use it for all sorts of things, from helping them balance to communicating and expressing emotion. To have the tail cut off an adult is exceptionally cruel."

The incident has been reported to Lothian and Borders Police, but is being investigated by the SSPCA.

• Anyone who recognises Frosty or has any information about what happened is asked to contact the SSPCA on 0870 737 7722.

Poor Frosty

poor little babe

still - he's in safe hands now.

poor thing

What a shame, I feel so sad now after reading that story, lets hope it has a happy ending

Nikki

poor dog , I hope they catch those responsible