Stray cocker spaniel found with heartbreaking injuries 'may have been thrown from moving car'

A cocker spaniel left unable to walk properly after suffering broken bones and damage to his spine may have suffered his injuries after being thrown from a car, a local council has said.

Beethoven was unable to put weight on three of his legs when he was found as a stray in Hartlip, Swale, Kent, on Saturday, 21 May, with the local council unable to contact his owner.

Swale Borough Council Stray Dog Service said the injured spaniel was taken to nearby vets where he was given some treatment.

But x-rays later showed that his injuries - which included spinal damage and fractures to his leg - were comparable to being hit by a moving vehicle, or possibly being thrown out of one.

Writing on Facebook, Swale Borough Council Stray Dog Service said: "After minimal improvement over the weekend, the kennels made the decision to take him for further investigation and the X-rays have left us speechless.

"The vets have said the injuries are comparable to being hit by, or being thrown out of a moving vehicle.

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"He's got spinal damage, two fractures to his tibia and many other injuries which have been left to heal without treatment.

"The most shocking part? He hasn't sustained these injuries recently, he's just been left to suffer."

Beethoven is now being looked after by KareBear Kennels, who have posted pictures of him being fussed on his very own Facebook page, as well as updating people on a fundraiser to help pay for his vet bills, which has already raised nearly £2,000.

Sharing a video of him trying to walk, they wrote: "He can move about a bit poor boy must have gone through so much u can feel his bones are not in line very well. But at least he isn’t in to much pain now. Xx".

Swale Borough Council Stray Dog Service have previously asked anyone with any information on Beethoven to get in touch with them.