Shepherd rescued in nick of time

Mark Ribble, Leamington

Charlie the German Shepherd is on his way to recovery.

The two-year-old red and black-coated shepherd was living a difficult life up until about a month ago.

Stephanie, from Leamington, who didn't want her last name used, answered a friend's Facebook post on August 8 about a dog that had been dropped off at their house.

His owners had apparently dropped him off, saying they couldn't take care of him any longer. He was very close to being put down.

Stephanie, who has rescued pets in the past, took one look at Charlie's injuries and decided something needed to be done to help him.

She took him to Dr. Stephen McDowell at Leamington Animal Hospital and had him assessed.

"He told me that he was really close to losing his leg," she says.

Charlie had apparently been tied with a rope to a tree for a number of days unattended and the rope had become wrapped around his left hind leg, cutting off the circulation.

The folks at Leamington Animal Hospital removed the rope as best they could and cleaned up Charlie's wounds, sending Stephanie on her way with him.

His ears were so badly destroyed from flies that they were hardly recognizable as ears, according to Stephanie.

Charlie is on a large amount of antibiotics due to infection that set in during his ordeal. . He will likely have some permanent nerve damage in his leg.  To read more go to www.leamingtonpostandshopper.com.