Deprived German Shepherd Most Likely Ate His Own Leg Because He Had Nothing Else To Eat

What has this world come to?

Lately, there has been a ton of stories about animals getting abused.

Honestly, what kind of monster can ignore their pitiful and cute faces, and choose to abuse them instead?

Look at that! So cute and fluffy!

When you choose to own a pet, you have the responsibility as an owner, as a family member, to care for them and love them.

But I guess some people just don’t get it.

As an avid animal lover and even more so a dog lover, it pains me to know that a German Shepherd was recently found by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) of New York, United States without a leg.

It was suspected that the nine-year-old dog, named Zoe, was not given food and in her own attempt to survive, she chewed off her own leg.

So What Actually Happened?

According to the New York Post, Zoe was chained up outside with nothing but a plastic pet carrier as shelter. She wasn’t given any food and her dog bowl was filled with snow.

A UPS driver saw this and he was horrified because not only was Zoe tied up, but it looked as if one of her legs had been “blown off”. For fear of her safety, he quickly called the SPCA in Susquehanna, a county in Pennsylvania so that they could take further action.

Along with the New York State Police and two Veterinary Hospitals, SPCA volunteers set out to rescue poor Zoe from her monstrous owner.

In the Facebook post by Susquehanna SPCA, they attached photos of their rescue mission and what Zoe looked like when they first saw her.

Her front left leg appears to be gone with only a bloody stump left. The wound still looks raw and you can practically see the fear in her eyes when they captured the photo.

Warning: The following photographs may be too disturbing for some. 

The Medical Tests

After she was rescued, she was brought to Oneonta Veterinary Clinic where they confirmed their suspicions that she chewed off her own leg.

A vet by the name of Dr Joan Puritz said that Zoe was very “emaciated” and that her leg seemed to have been injured previously, which was why she tried to “take care of it” by herself.

Zoe was later transferred to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for further treatment, and it was there that they discovered that she was suffering from other conditions like heart murmur and anaemia.

It’s like her suffering never ends.

Thankfully, after further tests, they determined that the huge mass on her shoulder was not cancerous and was instead just a fatty tumour. They removed it for her successfully and made sure that her leg was properly amputated before patching her up.

Zoe is now a much happier dog and the SPCA is looking for people who will be willing to adopt her. Those who apply would have to go through an adoption counselling process. It is also good to take note that she would need to visit the vet frequently, so it’s best that it would be someone who would be able to give her the necessary care.

The SPCA is also seeking donations to cover Zoe’s medical bills which were reported to have amounted to more than USD5,000 (~S$6,821).

What About The Owner?

According to a Facebook post by the New York State Police, 59-year-old Carl Pritchet who stays in Exeter, New Hampshire was later arrested and charged with torturing and injuring animals, failure to provide proper sustenance, and failure to provide appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors.

At least there’s some justice done. It is never right to abuse your pet. They are helpless and voiceless.

To you, they may just be another animal. But to them, you are their entire world. If you choose to own a pet, please accept the responsibility to care for them and love them as you would to your own family member.