Dog control officers in Rangitikei want help from the public in finding how a stray dog received an "odd injury" on her back. This article contains graphic images.
While the dog, named Bonnie, is looking forward to a new life in Feilding, thanks to the support of vets and animal control in Rangitikei, it has been a rough few weeks for the 6-year-old heading dog.
She was found by a farmer near the Santoft Forest, near Beamish Rd, last week, with a perfect cut running across her back from elbow to elbow, which had opened up a huge wound on her back.
It's an odd injury and Rangitikei District Council animal control is asking the public for any information about the dog.
It took the farmer about two days to catch the dog before she was taken to Southern Rangitikei Vets in Bulls last Saturday, where Dr Becky Murphy operated on her.
It was a perfectly straight and clean cut, which has left the experts scratching their heads. Rangitikei animal control officer Lou Fairest said they wanted to establish who the owner was and how Bonnie got her injury.
"We don't see this very often and that's why we need help from the public," Miss Fairest said.
The dog had no other injuries.
Animal control officers said she could have been cut deliberately, as it looked as if she had been skinned.
Bonnie, as she has been named by her new foster family, will be handed over to her new owners next week.
Until then she will continue her recovery at SRV, which includes tending to the healing would.
"She had fairly unpleasant wounds. It was pretty hard to tell what caused the injury. The dog had no chip or collar," Dave Angove of Southern Rangitikei Vets said.
"The dog's going to heal; she'll be fine with time. It's certainly a dog that wants to be living," Dr Angove said.
He said the good nature of the dog meant SRV had no hesitation in offering her care.
"This dog was a special dog. A good dog to deal with."
Anyone with information on Bonnie or what happened to her can call the Rangitikei District Council on 06 327 0099.