She was left on the side of the road with gashes up to five inches long covering her body. Her mouth was bound with electrical tape, causing her exposed tongue to swell. She was unable to eat, drink or pant for more than a day.
Miraculously, Hope the dog survived her horrific injuries and is recovering in a Texas veterinary clinic.
Now authorities need help finding her tormentor.
A compassionate citizen called Parker County Sheriff's deputies on Monday morning to report that an injured dog was wandering the streets near Weatherford, according to the sheriff's press release. Animal control workers arrived to find the 3-year-old pug-mix breed stumbling, frightened and severely wounded.
Upon further inspection, they found that Hope's attacker had purposefully pulled her tongue out and taped her mouth shut. Her tongue grew to such an enormous size and sustained so much damage, vets almost needed to amputate it. The torturer also left five deep, bloody gashes on her body with some kind of blade, KTBC reported. It took 100 stitches to close all her wounds.
PHOTOS of Hope (story continues below):
On Tuesday, her outlook was bleak. She couldn't eat or drink on her own, and her temperature spiked. But a veterinary technician with the Bowie Drive Animal Hospital that's caring for her told The Huffington Post today that Hope is expected to survive.
"Hope's doing so much better," said Hope's technician, Rhonda Sears. "She's eating and drinking, she's happy, she's a sweet sweet dog.
"This is the first time I've ever seen animal cruelty this bad," Sears said. "It is just blatant cruelty -- and she's the sweetest, most trusting dog out there."
Workers treating her named her Hope, because of her remarkable turnaround.
You can help. Cops haven't found a suspect yet, and anyone with information should call the Parker County Sheriff's Office at (817) 596-8845 or the Parker County Crime Stoppers Hotline at (817) 599-5555. Callers can remain anonymous and receive a reward for tips leading to an arrest.
Anyone who wants to donate to Hope's reward fund can call Deputy Danie Huffman at (682) 229-2358.
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