Dog found with collar embedded in neck

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A man found a Puggle running loose near the intersection of West Till Road & Huguenard Road on Tuesday that had a chain being used as a collar embedded in her neck, according to Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC). 

The man took the dog to a veterinarian in Waynedale who transferred the dog to FWACC. The dog had to undergo surgery to remove the chain as skin had grown around it.

Warning, some may consider the photos below graphic"

Photo 1 of chain embedded in neck

Photo 2 of neck after chain is removed

Officials think the seven to nine-year-old Puggle outgrew that collar, but it was never removed.  There was an infection around its neck along with a bad smell.  It took about an hour in surgery for Animal Care to get the chain off.

On Tuesday, FWACC said the dog was on antibiotics and recovering well.

"Aside from the embedded collar, the dog was a generally healthy weight.  The dog is heartworm negative, so somebody's been feeding this dog or at least overseeing this dog," said Laura Rowe, animal care supervisor at FWACC.  "Somebody has seen this dog for a while. It's not a starvation case with an embedded collar.  So somebody's been providing this dog with food and water, just not any kind of veterinary care."

Rowe said the Puggle will most likely have to go to a foster home to heal before being ready to be adopted out.

Charges are possible for the owner.  Anyone with information on the owner of the dog can contact  FWACC at 260-427-1244.