Puppy Used as Bait for Dog-Fighting :(

This is Hugo. Hugo's only about a year old, but he's had a tough little life so far: evidence suggests that most of his days were spent as a bait dog. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a bait dog is a smaller or weaker dog used to hone the aggression of fighting dogs. They're used both for training purposes and to get the fighting dog's blood lust up before a fight. (Kittens and rabbits are also common victims.) A bait animal is further disadvantaged by having its legs bound so that it cannot escape or inflict any damage by scratching the aggressor dog. The bait dog is muzzled or may even have its teeth filed down for the same reason.

Hugo was found with packaging tape wrapped around his hind legs. His left rear hock (the area below the knee) has a large open wound, both hocks have calluses and lumps of scar tissue, and his hip muscles are badly atrophied, indicating that he was shackled for a VERY extended period of time. His face, legs, and abdomen are scarred in bite-mark patterns.

Hugo's guardian angel found him lying cold and alone under some bushes, and although it clearly took every ounce of the pup's energy, he wagged his tail when she spoke to him. He allowed himself to be picked up and placed in her car. She took him to the nearest vet clinic, where his condition led the doctor to recommend putting him to sleep as the most humane resolution. Xrays showed he'd not eaten in days, and the doc speculated that he'd drug himself under that bush to die. Distraught, his rescuer agreed that putting him down was the best course of action. Then, thankfully, she changed her mind.

Because Hugo... Well, Hugo's a fighter, folks. His rescuer took him home, fed him, treated his injuries, and showed him the first human affection he's likely ever received. Now Hugo's in a foster home, where the regular meals (and belly rubs) continue to lift his spirits. Both his rescuer and his foster are amazed at how loving and trusting this gentle boy is, despite the sadistic treatment he'd previously endured at the hands of humans. Every day, every hour, sweet Hugo improves, both physically and mentally. He seems to know he's been given a second chance at life, and he's not wasting it!

The eventual goal is to find Hugo the perfect forever home, but before that can happen, we have to get him healthy. And we need your help to do that. Hugo had his second trip to the vet today. A new vet. A wonderful vet who is going to help us do all we can for this poor pup. But even wonderful vets cost money, and Hugo's new friends have already paid out nearly $1,000 in vet bills. Now, it's looking as though Hugo's more seriously injured rear leg will require surgery; a severe and quite nasty infection has set in under the surface, and the entire lower leg is swollen and feverish. At best, Hugo's facing a long, painful, and expensive recovery; at worst, an amputation. (Still expensive!)

Still, a three-legged life is better than no life at all, especially for a fighter like Hugo! So far, human beings have offered this little guy nothing but the most unimaginable pain and suffering: will you please help us offer him something different?