A dog named Brady is facing a long recovery after being found with a devastating injury in Lake Worth Beach.
Veterinarians believe the stray may have been bitten by an alligator.
“It was one of the worst injuries I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Victoria Koehler, medical director of the rescue organization Furry Friends.
Koehler suspects Brady had been suffering for days before a passerby found him near a canal last week. His front legs had catastrophic damage, with dead tissue and exposed bone.
The good Samaritan brought Brady to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control in West Palm Beach, where Furry Friends stepped in to provide emergency care. He was in shock from pain and dehydration, and underwent urgent surgery. One of his legs had to be amputated due to the severity of the injury.
“Brady is doing OK. The operation went well,” Koehler said, noting he needed two blood transfusions because of dangerously low red blood cell levels. However, he still faces a critical recovery period.
“He’s not out of the woods yet. Because of tetanus, he requires around-the-clock care and will likely remain in intensive care for at least another week.”