Starving puppy with legs broken in suspected abuse case in fight for life

Dibba resident Victoria said she rescued the puppy after she saw the dog alone on the street crying out in pain.

A puppy whose hip was dislocated and two of its legs broken was found crying in pain and almost starved to death. Courtesy Rescuer

DUBAI // A starving puppy with a dislocated hip and two broken legs has been found in Dibba in what looks to be another case of abuse.

Dr Teena Joseph, of Lucky Veterinary Clinic in Al Barsha, Dubai, is treating the four-month-old dog and said its injuries indicated that the injuries it suffered were intentional.

“We think that the puppy was abused because the fractures are in the same place in each leg,” she said. “He’s still not stable and he has diarrhoea, but the good thing is that he’s eating.”

Dibba resident Victoria said she rescued the puppy, who has been named Jaden, after she saw him alone on the street, crying out in pain, on Sunday night.

“I was coming back from work and I wasn’t sure what to do, so I kept him with me for two days in my room,” she said. “I didn’t know where to go or if there is a nearby hospital until people from [social media] contacted me. I had my friend help me post on there.

“I took a taxi to Dubai to take him to the vet.”

Dr Joseph said that it is not certain that the puppy will recover.

“He came to the clinic with total paralysis and unable to control his bladder,” she said. “He has a total of five fractures and an open wound, which also makes the injuries very suspicious.

“He is still in a lot of pain.”

If and when he makes a full recovery, Jaden will be put up for adoption.

Last year, President Sheikh Khalifa issued Federal Law No 18 for 2016 to tackle cases of animal cruelty. Anyone in violation faces a one-year jail term and/or a fine not exceeding Dh200,000.

However, some animal welfare volunteers argue that the law is not being properly enforced.

In September last year, an Emirati teenager was filmed throwing a cat against a wall in Ajman. He was arrested after the video was posted online but later released without charge. His parents pledged that he would not repeat the incident.

Later that year, a five-month-old kitten was found with its ears and tail cut off. The cat was found in a pool of blood by a woman after she heard the animal crying in pain.