Dog Found with Knife Lodged in Head After 24-Hour Disappearance
In a deeply disturbing case of animal cruelty, an 11-month-old beagle named Helios was found with a knife blade embedded in his head after a brief disappearance. The incident occurred in the Vaucluse region of France and has sparked outrage online and among animal welfare groups.
A violent attack during a short escape
Helios had been missing for only 24 hours following a walk when he was discovered in critical condition by a passerby. The person rushed him to a nearby veterinary clinic, where the diagnosis was as shocking as it was horrifying: a knife blade had pierced through his skull, from the base of his jaw to the area near his eyes.
“The force of the impact was so violent that the handle of the knife broke off,” reported the animal rescue organization L’Oasis du Phénix, based in the neighboring Bouches-du-Rhône department. An X-ray image later shared by the association confirmed the presence of the blade inside the dog’s head.
A delicate life-saving surgery
Helios's original owners, for personal reasons, decided not to keep him after the attack. L’Oasis du Phénix stepped in to take responsibility for the beagle, and he was operated on March 28 in what the association described as an “extremely delicate” procedure. At the time of surgery, the potential after-effects were still unknown.
Despite heavy bleeding during the operation, which required a blood transfusion, Helios pulled through. “Miraculously, the knife did not damage his eye. It has been saved,” said the rescue group. “Once the swelling goes down, Helios is not expected to suffer any long-term effects.”
Recovery and a new start
Helios is now recovering in a foster home, gradually regaining trust in humans and other animals. His daily routine is currently filled with rest, meals, short walks, and affection. “He seems to really enjoy this new rhythm,” said the association in a post five days after the operation.
A follow-up veterinary visit is planned to monitor his eye and anemia, which resulted from significant blood loss during surgery.
Legal action and public support
The dog's former family has filed a formal complaint with local authorities, and L’Oasis du Phénix has pledged to support the legal process. The identity of the attacker remains unknown at this time.
A fundraising campaign launched to cover Helios’s veterinary costs raised over €1,500 in just a few hours. The fundraiser remains open, with future donations set to support additional animal rescues and cat sterilization efforts at local feeding stations.
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