A RESCUE charity is campaigning to give a dog that was shot and left to die from eleven bullet wounds the chance of a happy future.

Ruzgar the rescue dog was shot and left to die for more than two days right next to a café where men casually played cards all day in a rural Turkish village.

Read more: Richmondshire animal rescue gains charity status

Eventually a resident alerted a vet who found Ruzgar close to death as infection had already crept into his gunshot wounds.

On closer examination he was found to have neck fractures, was severely malnourished and the vet extracted eleven gunshot pellets that were embedded in him.

For the next week Ruzgar lay still on an intravenous drip, only able to move his eyes.

It took several weeks before he was able to stand up and his plight was alerted to Animal Friends of Turkey, a charity based in Brompton-on-Swale, Richmond, by animal welfare volunteers living in the village.

The charity, run by Carol Holbrook, kept close tabs on his recovery and once he was strong enough, they agreed to take him into the care of their shelter in Fethiye, Turkey.

Ruzgar has since gone from strength to strength and the charity has launched an appeal to help continue his care and also to fund his transport to the UK where a forever home will be found for him.

Carol said: “We have come across so many heart-breaking cases during the three years we have been running our rescue and rehoming operation over in Turkey.

“However, there are few that have been as sad and shocking as the cruelty shown to poor Ruzgar.

“Thank God for the vet who showed such wonderful kindness and determination to pull this boy through.

“Ruzgar is such a sweet boy and he is responding so well to the tender loving care he is now receiving at our sanctuary.

"He is coming to understand that not all humans are cruel.”

It is likely to be another five months before Ruzgar, so named by the vet, can travel to the UK.

Carol said: "We still have some way to go with this special boy but we are determined to ensure he has the happy ever after ending he truly deserves.

"We would be grateful for any help people feel they can give us to make this come true for Ruzgar,”

Those wishing to help can do so by paying directly into the charity's Paypal account at animalfriendsofturkey@aol.com

More information about the charity can be found here

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