Dog Found Paralyzed in Trash With 6 Broken Bones Looking for New Home

A rescue pup named Zacky is looking for a forever home after being found abandoned in the trash with five broken ribs, a fractured vertebra, and the prospect of never being able to walk again.

In a Facebook post shared in February, a Hungarian shelter known as the Foundation of Animal Protection in Füzesabony (FAPF), appealed to the public for donations to help fund Zacky's expensive medical procedures, as he makes unexpected progress against all the odds.

Reka, a spokesperson for FAPF told Newsweek that when the severely injured puppy was found in a local backyard, the owners of the house said they didn't know him, so the shelter will never for sure know what happened to him.

"He was unable to walk and his injuries weren't new," the spokesperson told Newsweek. "We rushed him to the hospital where they found his spine was broken along with multiple broken ribs. Perhaps he was kicked and beaten up very badly.

"He was given a low chance of learning to walk but he is only 7 months old so we decided we wanted to give him a chance—He received spinal surgery with an implant to stabilize the spine."

Veterinarian advice website Vet Help Direct explains that spinal injuries cause serious implications for a pup's welfare, and if left untreated they can lead to permanent paralysis.

Spinal fractures are often caused by car accidents or falls from a height. In severe cases, the pup's spinal cord may be trapped, pinched or severed by the broken bones. When the spinal cord is bruised the dog may be able to heal if the fracture is rapidly repaired. If the damage is too bad it may not be possible.

"I brought him home to do his rehabilitation and every day since then, his improvements are incredible. He lost all feeling in his back legs after the surgery so we started very low—he even needed a catheter to be able to pee," the FAPF spokesperson continued.

"Today he is able to pee and poo on his own, he has good reflexes in both legs and can even keep himself standing up for a few seconds without help. He is not yet able to push himself up to standing and has not attempted to take a step yet but we are extremely hopeful."

She explained that Zacky is currently receiving intensive physiotherapy three times a week at a rehab facility where they do massages, give him laser therapy and use a magnetic mat to improve his recuperation.

"We are working hard to get him to a point where he is able to go into hydrotherapy as well," Reka said. "At home, he gets massages, manual therapy and standing exercises three times a day. He is so eager to work and gain strength and all the doctors and physios are amazed by his fast improvement and good spirits.

"Zacky has the best spirits and such a big love for life, regardless of all the horror he must have experienced in his first seven months of life. He is very cuddly and loves my own dogs and recently learned to play with toys, which is so sweet."

The shelter is already looking for applications for the pup, though potential owners must be located in Europe. They also urge anyone interested in Zacky to understand that his care is currently quite extensive and they cannot guarantee how his recovery will go.

"His neurologist specialist said that based on current medical knowledge, this dog should not be able to move at all," Reka said. "His spine almost ripped through. Yet here he is, defeating the odds. We can't wait to see what else he will do."

As Zacky awaits his next spinal surgery, in three weeks, to remove his implant, the FAPF is pleading for donations to help pay the medical bills for him and other animals that have been rescued from neglect and abuse.

"We believe every life is worth it, and sometimes certain animals take a little extra effort (and a lot of extra money) but we do not want to give up on them," the spokesperson added.

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