If it hadn’t been for a kind-hearted person who found him, Pit Bull Charlie might have died in a pile of trash. When rescuers discovered him, Charlie was lying inside a dumpster, covered in flies, dirt, and painful wounds all over his body. The poor dog was so weak that he could barely lift his head.
When Nikki first saw him, she knew immediately that Charlie was standing at death’s door. He hardly moved as she approached and carefully untied the rope that had cruelly fastened him to a pole. The fact that he managed to lift his head at all was nothing short of a miracle.
Nikki and a friend quickly carried Charlie into their car and rushed him to the Philadelphia Animal Hospital. There, the two-year-old pit bull received urgent medical care from a dedicated team determined to save his life.
“The following photo is hard to look at but truly heartbreaking,” the Philadelphia Animal Hospital wrote on Facebook.
“It is horrifying when innocent animals are treated this way, and sadly, we know this isn’t an isolated incident,” the hospital continued. “Charlie is such a sweet dog, and while he’s stable now, our veterinary team is doing everything possible to make sure he pulls through.”
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched to identify and prosecute whoever abandoned and abused Charlie. The case is being handled by the Humane Law Enforcement Unit of the Pennsylvania SPCA.
“Although this isn’t the first rescue we’ve been involved in, the people who found Charlie absolutely brought him to the right place,” City of Elderly Love, a local rescue partner, posted. “Philadelphia Animal Hospital has generously agreed to provide all of Charlie’s treatment free of charge, and once he’s stable, we’ll continue his recovery journey. We sincerely hope that Philly’s Humane Law Enforcement team will bring those responsible for hurting Charlie to justice.”
Veterinarians remain concerned about the risk of sepsis due to his severe wounds. However, several days after being rescued, Charlie has shown encouraging signs of recovery.
“There’s no exact timeline for Charlie’s healing process,” the rescue group shared, “and we’re taking things one day at a time. But Charlie is strong, and the worst is behind him. Tomorrow, he will undergo surgery to remove dead tissue from his face. He’ll need multiple procedures to fully recover, but for the first time in a long while, he’s finally comfortable.”
Thanks to Nikki, the rescuers, and the compassionate doctors, Charlie now has a real chance at life.