A defenceless puppy who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of his despicable former owner has finally found a loving new home. Bernie was left with a fractured cheek and multiple rib fractures which were revealed on X-rays. The bulldog could barely manage to stand and also suffered from a bloodshot eye.
His barbaric owner had repeatedly struck him for at least ten minutes on one dreadful occasion. Bernie, aged 11 months, endured beatings on at least three separate occasions. He was rescued by the RSPCA in Birmingham. A spokesperson for the animal charity said: “He was rushed to an RSPCA animal hospital where X-rays showed he also had cheek and multiple historic rib fractures.
“And showed that he had sustained these bone fractures on at least three separate incidents. Heartbreakingly, Bernie’s injuries were consistent with his owner punching him a number of times for a duration of at least 10 minutes.” Bernie received treatment at the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital in Birmingham before being moved to the RSPCA Northamptonshire Branch, as reported on NeedToKnow.
Kate Whitehead, from the branch, said: “He was a bit shut down when he arrived, he was very uncertain. He became more playful and became the puppy he wasn’t allowed to be before. He unravelled out of his shell and started lapping up attention.”
However, he has now been rehomed with Lucie Johnstone, 39, Amanda Hunt, 45, and Amanda’s children, Maisie, 19, and Kieran, 18, in Nottingham. Lucie gushed about her beloved Bernie: “Bernie is just perfect really. He’s cheeky and has lots of personality but not too full-on.”
She added, “If you’re feeling any stress, he immediately snaps you out of it.” Continuing her praise, she said, “He gets us out walking, and in nature, and it’s so lovely when he gives you that undivided love.”