Animal Samaritans need money to help injured Shar Pei dog

9:10am Friday 9th January 2009

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A CHARITY is appealing for funds to help a dog which nearly lost one leg and an ear following a fight.

Raul was attacked by a younger dog after an unspeyed female dog came to his home in Gravesend.

The 10-year-old Shar Pei dog was brought to the Animal Samaritans charity in Bexleyheath just before Christmas and spent two weeks at a vets’ in Northfleet.

He is staying at a foster home but will eventually need to find a new owner.

Charity chairman Chris Bishop said: “We’ve seen some sights but even we just stood back when we saw him and said ‘good God’. We weren’t sure we could save him.”

She added: “The other dog almost ripped Raul to pieces at their home.

“They had been companions for many years but unfortunately they just turned on each other.

“He almost tore Raul’s leg off and his ear - we thought he might lose both of them at one point.”

Raul has had many operations and was put on a feeding tube but the vets were able to save his leg and ear.

The charity now needs to raise £1,100 to cover the treatment Raul has received along with the further care he needs.

Ms Bishop says that Raul is now very nervous around other dogs and cowers away when he sees them.

Unfortunately his previous owner was unable to afford the treatment Raul needed and a new home will also have to be found for him.

The chairman said: “The trouble is with a dog like Raul they get a bad press.

“He’s the type of dog that’s very hard to re-house.

“People will assume he’s a fighting dog especially when they see his scars but he’s not, he’s a family dog.”

The charity advises anyone who has a female dog in season to separate it from other dogs and have it neutered.

To donate to the charity, which covers south east London and north Kent, write to Animal Samaritans, Raul Appeal, PO Box 154, Bexleyheath, Kent DA16 2WS or call 020 8303 1859.