Southern California Dog Chews Off Own Paw
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) — A German shepherd that apparently chewed off his paw after being chained up is recovering in Orange County.
The Orange County Register says volunteers from a dog rescue group took 11-month-old Rocky to a Mission Viejo vet Monday.
He'd been surrendered at an animal shelter by owners who said they didn't know how he lost his back foot.
The vet, Matthew Wheaton, says it appears the dog gnawed it off — a behavior that can happen when the paw gets tangled in a chain and the blood supply is cut off.
It's illegal in California to tether a dog for more than three hours a day. Experts say it's cruel because dogs need interaction and exercise and can become anxious or aggressive without it.
Animal control officials are investigating.
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