Dog fled war-torn Ukraine for UK solely to be hit with shovel and left for useless in lay-by

German Shepherd Bandit was found by dog wardens near Sittingbourne, Kent, after it’s believed he was brutally assaulted with a shovel which left his brain exposed

A poor dog escaped war-ravaged Ukraine for a brighter future in the UK, only to be brutally attacked with a shovel and left for dead in a lay-by. The German Shepherd, named Bandit, sustained a fractured skull so severe that his brain was exposed.

Bandit was discovered by dog wardens on Ridham Dock Road, in Iwade, near Sittingbourne, Kent. He was immediately rushed to the vet where he underwent surgery for his head injury.

The brave dog is now anticipated to make a full recovery. He has a microchip issued in Ukraine in 2022, indicating he’s about three years old. It’s plausible that Bandit was brought to the UK by someone escaping the war.

Angels 4 Dogs is currently nursing him back to health and hopes to find him a loving new home.

The animal charity has been inundated with donations. Dog enthusiasts have showered him with food, treats, and toys from Amazon.

Yasmine Moss, who runs Angels 4 Dogs, said: “They’ve said it’s the first few days after surgery that are the hardest as he could have a bleed on the brain in this time. But he’s been in good spirits, wagging his tail and eating well.”

Bandit was found last Wednesday (12 Mar), as reported on NeedToKnow. Yasmine added: “Bandit was driven to a remote area in Kent. And smashed in the head with what the vet thinks would have been a shovel in the hopes he would die.

“When he was found he was curled up and just about clinging to life. I cannot imagine his love and trust being abused so callously and violently. Bandit was always meant to be found.

“To know that this world isn’t made up of all these awful things. Investigations have shown he has an unregistered Ukrainian chip sold in 2022.

“Which does mean he likely came over from Ukraine to the UK possibly with someone fleeing war there.”

Shortly after Putin invaded Ukraine, the internet began swooning over an adorable dog tasked by the Ukrainian military to sniff out and locate Russian mines.

A cute snap of Patron (which translates to Bullet in English) was initially posted to Reddit forum r/dogswithjobs but has since been shared elsewhere. It later emerged Patron “likes cheese and finding Russian land mines near Chernihiv, Ukraine”.

Several Reddit and Imgur users declared that Patron was indeed a “good boy”. Someone else commented: “We don’t deserve dogs and their faithful love.”