Remarkable recovery for Lurcher attacked by badger and staples

Staff at Hull Animal Welfare Trust have been treating Comet the Lurcher since it was dumped anonymously outside a vet’s surgery, where it initially received care.

Comet, believed to be about three years old, is understood to have suffered tearing to the bottom of its face in a confrontation with a badger in Lancashire, and staff at the Trust’s Sunnydene Shelter in South Cave, East Yorkshire, said they were appalled to see how the owners had attempted to reconstruct its face.

Amy Bryan, 32, the shelter’s manager, said: “Comet must have gone through excruciating pain and suffering when the staples were stuck to his face.

“The stapler that was used would have been the type that you find on your desk at work. There were at least ten staples on his mouth and up to his jawline.

“The badger managed to tear off the entire bottom of Comet’s face, with superficial wounds right up to his eyes.

“None of us at this centre have ever seen this kind of cruelty happen to an animal before.”

Comet has been a resident of the shelter since last November.

Miss Bryan said: “Comet came to us with no collar and no paperwork documenting the past owners, so we haven’t been able to bring them to justice for such a horrific crime.

“What the owners did was illegal and it’s hard to describe the pain Comet will have been put under. He still has slight numbness in his jaw from his injuries, but is now eating as usual.”

The charity is now looking for 
a new home for the recovering pet.

“Comet needs an experienced handler, someone with no small animals or children because Comet has been forcibly trained to grab hold of anything smaller than him,” Miss Bryan said.

“It’s such a shame as he’s very affectionate with people, and walks well on a lead, like any other dog.

“Someone with experience in handling this breed would be helpful as the expertise would be invaluable. He’s a very big, strong dog and we found him to be a lovely companion.”