Puppy mutilated because she was too weak to fight

This boxer cross was only eight weeks old when she was mutilated by thugs involved in dog-fighting.

The attackers tried to hack off her ears and tail before abandoning the bleeding puppy in a Brent park.

Named Cabbage by her rescuers, her wounds were operated on by vets at the Mayhew Animal Home in Kensal Green who also reset her front legs, which were deformed by malnutrition.

She almost died during surgery but was saved with a shot of adrenaline to the heart. Now three months old, Cabbage has made a rapid recovery and is expected to have her plaster casts removed within weeks.

Vicki Howard from the home said: "This was a horrific case but our vets decided she deserved the best shot in life.

"She is now a wonderfully cheerful little dog who is always wagging her tail and trying to lick people.

"She doesn't appear to show any signs of trauma." Cabbage will eventually be rehoused with a family and it's hoped will be able to walk and run normally.

Her rescuers believe that because she could not fight she would have been used as bait or for practice.

Ms Howard said: "It is difficult to find evidence of dog fights because it is underground and difficult to infiltrate. We only see the ones who have been dumped. They cut off the ears and tail so the attacking dogs have less to grab hold of."

If you want to adopt Cabbage, call 020 8969 0178.