'This poor boy had an awful open wound on his neck which was no accident.'
A dog mutilated with a serrated knife, shot and left for dead, is making a steady recovery thanks to four Northern Ireland pet charities and volunteers.
Initial medical treatment gave him life preserving antibiotics to tackle the festering wound on the back of his neck, but it soon became clear he would need multiple surgeries to ensure he could make a full physical recovery. “Until this space was available we were caring for him. This poor boy had an awful open wound on his neck which was no accident. We believe he was attacked, most likely by humans and possibly had his chip cut out. Our local vet examined the wound and prescribed antibiotics and cleansing for a number of days and before further assessment.
A spokesperson for the group said: “If only we knew what happened to him - and if only we could tell him it will never happen again. His rehab space at The Barn became available and they will be fully supported by us at next steps. We are so grateful that Hou has had the chance here and has responded well.”
Glenn Ford from the Barn, said: “No one was expecting the news we received. It has turned out not only had Houdini had his microchip cut out but he had been shot too. “His bill is now up to £1,100 and The Barn Animal Rescue Newtownards could do with some much needed support. If you’d like to donate directly to Hou’s care, you can do so by clicking The Barn’s link directly below with the reference ‘Hou’s Care’