He was dumped in a forest without care or conscience, abandoned to his fate and left for dead.
But five months on, thanks to the compassion of strangers, Ernie has found his forever home and will never know the terror of being alone again.
The incredible journey from near-death to living life to the full started in September 2022 when the little white Staffie was found by accident with another starving dog in a Co Antrim forest.