A Texas family is devastated after their St Bernard was stolen from their yard and was later found brutally beaten and left for dead.
Cassi Moss, owner of seven-year-old Big Ben, said the dog was taken from their Fort Worth home’s yard on Monday before he was discovered with a swollen eye and a bleeding, severed paw.
This tragedy only comes three months after the family adopted Ben, saving him hours before he was set to be euthanized, according to CBSDFW.
‘It hurts,’ an emotional Moss told the station. ‘I haven’t even told my kids.’
Ben, who is facing several surgeries, had been let out into the yard on Monday and was stolen as Moss was inside getting his food, according to a Gofundme page set up to help with the dog’s medical treatment.
The family searched the area around their home but had no luck in finding Ben, who Moss’ husband, James, noted had an embedded microchip.
They then contacted police and reported him missing before later that evening a passerby found the brutally beaten dog in a ditch near railroad tracks.
Ben had reportedly been thrown over a fence before he was discovered with a badly crushed paw, head injuries and left blinded in his right eye, according to CBSDFW.
‘We get a phone call later that evening that our dog was found in the ditch beside a fence half dead,’ James Moss said.
‘We think some punk kids wanted to beat a dog up and they just happened to pick our dog.’
The dog now might have to have his paw amputated which could mean he would be unable to walk, as Mr Moss explained Ben already has a weak back leg.
Ben, who is described as ‘the friendliest dog you’ll ever see in his life’, was initially taken to critical care at Metrowest Emergency Vet in Fort Worth.
On Tuesday morning, he was taken to Greenville Animal Hospital in Greenville. He was scheduled for his first surgery today.
Mrs Moss, who believes ‘somebody intentionally’ hurt Big Ben, is certain he was taken from their yard and noted that when they realized he was missing, the gate was still closed.
Fort Worth Police have been notified of the incident and are searching for the person(s) responsible.
Animal activist Sherri Green, who runs a local animal rescue group and helped the family find Ben, set up the Gofundme page for the family on Monday.
The Moss’ at the time were unsure how they were going to pay for his bills.
In one day the fund raised $10,250 and has since been closed for donations. A note on the account said remaining funds will be transferred directly to the vet taking care of Ben.
‘It’s still going to be a battle,’ Green told the station of Ben. ‘He has very long road ahead of him.’