A dog was left tied up in Middleboro so long it eventually chewed off its own foot to get away, the MSPCA says.
An MSPCA officer found Maverick, an emaciated German Shepherd, on July 12 and rushed him to an animal clinic so veterinarians could begin to treat the wound to his right back foot.
Maverick was eventually transferred to MSPCA's Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston for continued treatment.
Officials say Maverick has rope burns and scars on his other legs, indicating he has been been tied up before.
"Clearly he had been entangled by his own leash many times in the past; unfortunately, he was unable to free himself this last time," Officer Chelsea Weiand explained.
Weiand, the officer who found Maverick, said he had probably been tethered and unattended for at least a whole day before he hurt himself.
Kevin Kennedy, Maverick's owner, has been charged with felony animal cruelty for neglect and failure to pursue necessary veterinary care, police say.
Veterinarians say normally they would amputate the dog's leg, but Maverick has such advanced hip dysplasia that he wouldn't be able to walk without a leg.
A surgery is planned for July 27, after which Maverick will recover in the hospital for up to 10 days before he will be up for adoption.
Maverick's surgery is expected to cost over $5,000 and the MSPCA's Boston adoption center is asking for donations. To donate, click here.
“I have been working here for six and a half years. I have literally never seen, this is the most disturbing thing I've ever seen,” adoption center manager Alyssa Krieger said. “All he has left is the base pad of his paw. All of the toes are gone and the toes were sticking out. Where he had chewed them off. It was just absolutely horrifying.”
Anyone interested in adopting Maverick can contact the MSPCA's Boston adoption center directly atadoption@mspca.org.
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