A dog savaged in Derry two weeks ago by a pack of "hunting dogs" has developed a fear of being outside with strangers due to his trauma.
Two weeks after the attack, the Labrador now called Bramble, remains in the care of Drumahoe Vets where he is being treated for severe and numerous bite injuries.
He was rescued from a garden where he had hidden in brambles, and taken for emergency care on February 23.
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And today while most of his physical injuries are healing, the worst one on a hind leg is causing serious concern although his medical team is fighting to help save the limb which has a large deep wound exposing muscle and bone.
Until that heals then he cannot be released to a loving foster home.
As vet Julian Kozlowski said Bramble's healing is going to plan but it's a slow process.
He explained: "He is a wonderful dog who is taking his healing journey very well. he is compliant and lies down for all his treatments and examinations and he trusts the team he has got to know over the last two weeks.
"Today we worked to start the process of stitching the biggest wound on his leg internally and we will continue to do that layer by layer as we go. It's a long process for him and nothing much in his treatment has changed from the first few days. his wounds are dressed and flushed twice a day and he remains very calm for all of that.
"It's fair to say that Bramble and I have got to know and like each other a lot. When he finally gets to leave it will be a bitter sweet moment."
But Julian who has worked on Bramble's physical injuries from the start, had predicted the Labrador would struggle with emotional and mental health after the attack, and a fortnight on his fear response kicking in during certain everyday situations.
And while Bramble is bravely coping with having his injuries undressed, flushed and redressed every day, being outside in the clinic’s garden triggers a fear response making him want to get back to the vet staff who he has bonded with.
Julian said: “We said early on that his injuries were not just physical. He was seriously mentally traumatised by what he'd been through. No one who saw the initial photo of him hiding in the bushes of a garden could think otherwise.
“The trauma he suffered was deep and that can have a last emotional and mental affect. But we found him to be the perfect patient. He is calm, he has made friends with us and he trusts us. He is affectionate, gentle and very easy to work with.
"But we know that when anyone else outside of the team visits him or takes him for a little walk, he is shy and wants to get back to us. It's fear pushing that, fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar and it probably comes from the experience he's had.
"However we think this is something that can be worked on - he is willing to trust which is remarkable after the trauma he has been through. He will get to know his new family and he will be happy but it will take time to build trust.
"No owner or family has come forward at all so he will probably go to foster care and find his new life from there. He learned to trust us in a matter of days and he has built on that.
"The fear he is dealing with when he is outside of his now familiar space will hopefully lift when he is in the right company and given time. It all takes time, the physical injuries and the mental and emotional injuries, they take time to heal."
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His support team said: “We were hoping Bramble would be a bit further on in his recovery but unfortunately one particular wound is concerning the vets the most.
“He’s stable and he’s happy and he loves the staff who are so amazing with him. But infection is still a serious concern. His dressings are being removed and the wounds flushed twice daily.
“We took him for a short stroll around the clinic garden but he wanted to get back inside to his safe place. It was heartbreaking to witness but he trusts the staff so much and doesn’t want to be away from them.”
Calling Bramble a “wee warrior”, they asked for dog lovers to keep him in their prayers ahead of further updates.
To date no family or owner has come forward for Bramble who was out in the Glengalliagh area of Derry at 3.30am on February 22 when the attack took place.
Police and the local council are investigating claims around incident.
