A dog fled to the UK from war-torn Ukraine only to be left for dead in a lay-by. Bandit, a German Shepherd, suffered a fractured skull after being battered by a shovel and the injury was so bad that his brain was left exposed.
He was found in Ridham Dock Road, near Sittingbourne in Kent, last week before being rushed to the vet for emergency surgery. He was found curled up and “just about clinging to life”.
The three-year-old dog has a microchip issued in Ukraine in 2022 meaning it’s possible that he was brought to the UK by someone fleeing the war. Bandit is fortunately expected to make a full recovery from his awful injury and charity Angels 4 Dogs are now looking to find him a new loving home.
Yasmine Moss, who runs the charity, said: “They’ve said it’s the first few days after surgery that are the hardest as he could have a bleed on the brain in this time. But he’s been in good spirits wagging his tail and eating well.”
She added: “Bandit was driven to a remote area in Kent. And smashed in the head with what the vet thinks would have been a shovel in the hopes he would die. When he was found he was curled up and just about clinging to life.
“I cannot imagine his love and trust being abused so callously and violently. Bandit was always meant to be found. To know that this world isn’t made up of all these awful things.
“Investigations have shown he has an unregistered Ukrainian chip sold in 2022. Which does mean he likely came over from Ukraine to the UK possibly with someone fleeing war there.”