Sunderland dog found so abused and starved it was touch and go whether he would survive

The male Staffordshire Bull Terrier was brain damaged and so poorly nobody knew whether he would even survive, when he was found in Millfield, Sunderland, on February 5.

He was taken to Cleadon Kennels, where he was painstakingly nurtured back to health over a period of two months.

The loving pooch is now feeling well enough to start looking for a forever home.

Manager Aimee Pemberton said: “when he first came in, he was starving and he had cigarette burns to his face. He suffered from a really bad skin condition and had scabs all over his back.

“It was touch and go whether he would survive because of the state he was in.

“After a couple of weeks, we started to see a change in him, his body would accept some things but not food.

“It was suggested we start him on corned beef and that helped with his weight gain.

“He had five baths a week and he lost all his hair, but over the space of seven weeks he started looking like a normal dog again.

After two-and-a-half months he was back, but he has neurological damage, because of what he’s been through, which sometimes makes him fall over.”

Aimee said the dog needs a home without children or other dogs, or she would have adopted him herself.

“I’m getting attached, but I can’t take him home, because I’ve already got two Staffies myself. People don’t realise what nice dogs they are.

“Because of what he’s been through he has trust issues. He gets on great with females, but we don’t know how he is with men.

“He is fine one-on-one and we’ve got him to sit, but he can’t give the paw because of his brain damage.”

To enquire about adopting any of the dogs at Cleadon Kennels, visit cleadonkennels.webs.com or call 529 2369 Monday to Saturday between 9am and 6pm or Sunday from 9am to noon.