Puppy with two broken legs was suffering ‘unimaginable trauma’ — so shelter stepped in
A puppy, only months old, is now safe and recovering after experiencing suspected neglect, a Philadelphia shelter said.
It took a village to step in and rescue MJ, a German shepherd/mixed breed based on the photos, starting with a phone call to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the shelter said in a March 7 Facebook post.
“At just three months old, puppy MJ is fighting through unimaginable trauma—two broken legs and previously healed rib fractures that tell a heartbreaking story of suspected abuse,” the shelter said.
“When we received a call from a concerned Good Samaritan, our Animal Law Enforcement Officers immediately mobilized. The challenge? MJ was at a veterinary hospital in New York State, while her owner lived in Potter County, Pennsylvania—our jurisdiction.”
Even though the journey would be a long one, the shelter and those involved didn’t hesitate.
“The rescue would require a 7-hour journey one way, but for our team, there was never a question of whether to go,” the shelter continued.
“Our dedicated officer first secured legal surrender from MJ’s owner, then traveled even further to retrieve her from the veterinary hospital.”
After retrieving MJ from the hospital in New York, she wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
“During their long journey back to Philadelphia, Sunbury Animal Hospital provided a crucial safe haven, giving both our exhausted officer and the fragile puppy much-needed care and rest,” the shelter said.
“Today, MJ is safe with us, but her road to recovery is just beginning. She’ll need specialized care to give her the best chance at a normal, pain-free life. Whether that happens in here or with a qualified rescue partner is still being determined, but what matters most is that she’s now out of harm’s way.”
For more updates on MJ, visit the shelter’s Facebook page.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Puppy with two broken legs was suffering ‘unimaginable trauma’ — so shelter stepped in."