A CHIHUAHUA-cross puppy that was left broken following a devastating attack in Dorset is now loving life in a new home with a staff member who fell in love with her.

Poppy was just eight months-old at the time of the abuse and was rescued by the RSPCA following a report from a concerned member of the public about a dog with untreated injuries at an address in Dorset.

The poor puppy couldn’t put weight on her back leg, was left with a large lump on her front leg and part of the top of her left ear was missing.

She was rushed for urgent veterinary treatment by the RSPCA where examinations and X-rays found further injuries.

As well as the untreated broken back leg she had two fractures to her right front leg which had started to heal and other historic injuries, including three fractured ribs as well as skin wounds, an amputated ear tip and a cut to her tongue which had since healed.

The vet concluded these injuries were non-accidental and had been caused on different occasions so an investigation was launched by RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey in August 2023.

He said: “It was so sad when I first saw Poppy – she was so happy and lovely – but because she had a fracture to her back left leg and two to her right front leg, to move and balance her weight she had to choose which fractured leg to walk on.

Some of Poppy’s injuries Picture: RSPCA

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“She was using her front leg and she must have been in horrendous pain every time she moved before we got to her.

“There were then fears she may have to have her leg amputated but as the fracture had already healed partly it was decided to give her pain management to help see if she could recover and I am delighted she is now living a healthy and happy life.”

This coms after the RSPCA revealed a shocking 33% rise in animal cruelty reports in the summer months – 34,401 in June to August 2024 compared to 25,887 in 2023.

Last summer, the charity received 374 reports of cruelty against animals every single day which is shockingly, one report every two minutes the line is open.

Poppy is now living her best life Picture: RSPCA

In new figures the charity revealed this week that beatings are also up 10% year on year with a heart-breaking four beatings reported every hour or one every 15 minutes the call line is open.

After having veterinary care it was decided that Poppy was in need of special care in a foster home to help her recover. So Patrick himself decided to look after her around his full-time job.

With the help of his partner, Patrick looked after Poppy for six weeks until she was ready to be transferred to an RSPCA centre to find her forever home.

Patrick said: “When I first took Poppy home, she was still recovering from her injuries and the leg fractures were healing so she needed plenty of cage rest to recover at first which was challenging for such a young dog.

“Even as she was healing from such serious injuries she was such a happy, friendly little puppy with a real zest for life and she won the hearts of everyone she met.

“We had to make sure she didn’t jump around like a puppy would normally do as we needed her injuries to heal. We would even take her into the garden on a lead at first so she could toilet without being tempted to try and run around.

“After her initial recovery an animal care assistant at Ashley Heath Animal Home offered Poppy a more permanent foster home but she fell in love with her and after the court case concluded she adopted her. She is now loved and adored and I couldn’t wish for a better home for her.”

Poppy now lives life to the full with Olivia Ball (33) at her home in Milford-on-Sea where she enjoys daily walks to the beach and dips in the sea.

Olivia (pictured with Patrick) said: “Poppy came to me towards the end of the cage rest she needed and the idea was to foster her and get her ready for a new home but I couldn’t give her up so I adopted her – we just bonded so much.

“Poppy came to me at a time when I had a lot going on in my life with some health issues and I had also just lost my cat after 23 years so I was still grieving from that. But she came at the right time in many ways as she brought something into my life which until then I didn’t know I was missing.

“She is great company and so loving and playful – a real ray of sunshine. She has been anxious at times and used to be sick from stress for instance if someone knocked at the door with a parcel.

“But for the past year she hasn’t had any sick episodes in my care so it looks like it is something she has got over, she just needed lots of reassurance.

“Now she loves nothing more than walking on the beach, with some of her dog friends, running into the sea and likes to say ‘hi’ to any new dogs she meets.

“Her injuries don’t hold her back and she has no lameness. She is just the perfect dog and it breaks my heart to think what she went through as a pup.

“This is why I would urge people to support the RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty campaign to help us save more pets like Poppy who are suffering from horrendous cruelty.”