WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
A HEARTBREAKING video shows a dog that was so badly neglected and starved it had started to eat his own back legs.
The distressing clip captured the moment desperately frail Capone was rescued from an address in Tranent, East Lothian on Monday.
Capone was was rescued by his former owner, Liam Livingstone, after he got a phone call tipping him off about the state of the dog.
Liam was horrified to discover that his former pet’s weight had dropped from 106lbs to around 20lbs.
https://www.facebook.com/100008203726132/videos/pcb.2028651684084936/2028651197418318/?type=3&theater
The bulldog had been kept in a cage full of his own urine and was so badly starved he had chewed right through to the bone at the top of his thighs.
The new owner, who had had the dog for around a year, had tried to nurse the wounds and the tied Capone’s mouth shut when he snapped at him.
Vets told Liam had suffered “severe neglect” and had not been fed for “a very long time”. Thankfully, it seems likely that Capone will make a full recovery.
On Tuesday, Liam, who lives in Edinburgh, launched a “Justice for Capone” campaign on social media urging the public to be aware of animal neglect.
Liam said he gave Capone to a friend he trusted after taking on one of the dog’s pups.
“Monday morning I received a phone call and was advised that I should be up there removing him from the property as he’s kept in a cage constantly and doesn’t appear to be getting fed.
“A dog that [was] 106lb had deteriorated to a dog probably less than 20lb, locked in a cage soaked in his own urine.
Capone is currently recovering from his ordeal at an SSPCA veterinary clinic in Livingston, West Lothian, until he is well enough to return to live with Liam.
Liam shared images of what Capone looked like before he was severely neglected, saying: “I want this shared far and wide, to make people aware you can’t trust anyone.
“You never know what anyone is capable of until they have done it and it’s too late.”
On social media, Lorna Taylor responded: “Lowest of the Low hope the evil person who did this gets treated the way they treated this poor dog. So sad.”
Shirley Anderson wrote: “How heartbreaking, that poor dog. Sub human selfish low life I am glad Capone is safe from the above.”
And Lyndsey Smith said: “So glad you went up that house and got your dog. He’s a beauty and hopefully will bounce back. Sounds like your “friend” needs help himself!”
An SSPCA spokeswoman today confirmed they are looking after Capone.
Inspector Stephanie McCrossan today said: “We were alerted to an incident in East Lothian and our enquiries are currently on-going.”
