A Queensland animal shelter has warned people not to give away unwanted pets via social media after having to treat a six-month-old puppy with facial injuries.
Trixie, a rottweiler/staffie cross, was given away when her owner could no longer care for her.
Shortly afterwards Trixie's former owner was blocked on social media by the people who took the dog and the animal's welfare couldn't be checked on.
Two weeks later Trixie turned up at a Bundaberg pound with severe facial injuries.
It's believed she'd been used as a bait dog to train fighting dogs.
Happy Tails Animal Rescue, based in Brisbane, heard about Trixie and retrieved her from the pound and provided her medical care.
In a post on their Facebook site, the shelter warn it's always best to use a shelter or rescue group to rehome a pet.
"We cannot even fathom the horror and pain this girl endured in those 2 weeks after she was given to a 'good home'," the post read.
"If you have absolutely no choice and need to rehome your pet ... always go through a rescue group or shelter ... you never can be sure who you are giving your precious pet to otherwise."
Trixie has since been placed with a foster home in Brisbane's north while the RSPCA reportedly investigates the case.
