Khaleesi, a pit bull found emaciated and missing half of her face, was taken in by Florida rescue groups in hopes of turning the loving puppy’s life around for the better.
The dog’s heart wrenching tale of neglect has garnered attention of rescuers attempting to raise money for procedures she needs.
“It’s going to be at least six months of surgery before we can issue an adoption,” said Stephanie Paquin, founder of Passion 4 Pits Rescue in Orlando, Florida. “Our focus is on getting her a nasal cavity because she’s in danger of aspirating whenever she eats or drinks something.
“Once her rehabilitation is complete, we will put her up for adoption and we will find a family that’s deserving of her love and attention.”
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Paquin told ABC News that Khaleesi was reported to Orange County Animal Services in Orlando Aug. 6 as being “dumped” in a stranger’s yard.
“The rescue coordinator asked if we could help her, take her and we didn’t hesitate,” Paquin said. “They know we’ll take the tough cases.”
Khaleesi is estimated to be a 2-year-old pit bull mix. The pooch was discovered with multiple injuries, including immobile hind legs, missing lips, a missing nasal cavity and weighing just 15 pounds.
“We suspect that it was another person who did this and it happened over the course of her life — because of the damage to her legs, ribs, and nasal cavity and their stages of healing,” Paquin said. “So someone was systematically abusing, or in my opinion, torturing this dog.”
Two days after Khaleesi’s rescue, Paquin said her foster home-based rescue group took in the pup, where she gained 10 pounds in just nine days.
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Dr. Kerri Slomcenski, owner of Hays Towne Veterinary Hospital in Hudson, Florida, said she will the veterinarian conducting Khaleesi’s upcoming medical procedures. The pup will be given a nasal opening and she’ll has the injuries to her knee, rib and spine assessed.
“The other thing is she obviously has some real deep facial abnormalities,” she said. “We’ll have to take some teeth that are abscessed because they are exposed and be able to put the lips back together again.”
Despite her circumstances, though, Khaleesi’s demeanor is as lovable as can be.
“It shocks me every day that I can see how happy she is and how she just wants attention,” she added.
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Slomcenski said Khaleesi’s surgery will begin in the next couple of weeks.
Donations can be called in directly to Hays Towne Veterinary Hospital in Hudson, Florida, at (727) 378-9008.
Khaleesi’s case is under investigation by animal rescue officers.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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