Content note: this story includes images of a dog with severe skin sores.
On a winter’s day in Stockport, someone tied a young dog up with a piece of rope and walked away. He was bald, sore and bleeding. Nobody knew if he would ever trust people again.
Found by the canal
On 1 February 2024, a member of the public found a young bull breed-type dog near the Peak Forest Canal at Woodley Precinct in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
He had been tied up with a piece of rope and left there. Large parts of his body were bald. He was covered in scabs and sores, and some of them were bleeding from scratching and itching. The RSPCA later described his condition as “shocking”.
His name was Enzo.
Urgent help
The person who found Enzo took him straight to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where he received urgent treatment.
He was later moved to the charity’s Warrington, Halton and St Helens animal centre on Slutchers Lane in Warrington for further treatment and care.
No owner to be found
Enzo was microchipped, but the details had never been registered. The RSPCA ran a media appeal and an investigation, but his owner couldn’t be traced.
RSPCA Inspector Ryan King didn’t hide how he felt about it. “Enzo had been badly let down by his previous owner and had simply been tied up with a piece of rope and cast aside in a dreadful condition,” he said.
Weeks of care
Recovery took time. “It took many weeks of care by the wonderful team at our Warrington animal centre to get him back to full health,” Inspector King said.
Slowly, Enzo’s fur grew back. But not every mark disappeared. He has been left with permanent scars on the top of his head, a lasting reminder of the neglect he suffered.
A visit that changed everything
Ana Freitas, 29, is a legal adviser who had moved to the UK from Brazil for work. She had been looking to rehome a rescue dog.
She went to the Warrington centre to see a different dog. But when she met him, she thought he would be too big for her. That’s when the staff mentioned Enzo.
“When I saw him it was love at first sight and I knew straight away I wanted to adopt him,” Ana said.
She didn’t wait. “I drove home, got everything ready and then returned to Warrington the next day to pick him up.”
In May 2024, Enzo was officially adopted.
“He hasn’t left my side”
“It was so sad hearing about his past but he’s the most amazing dog who loves people,” Ana said.
The dog who had been left tied up and alone found his person straight away. “From the first moment he came into the house he hasn’t left my side,” she said. “He settled in beautifully and on the first night he slept on my bed with his paw on my arm.”
The dog he is now
Ana, who lives near Congleton in Cheshire, says Enzo is “obsessed” with tennis balls. He loves walks in the countryside near her house, and the pair have even been camping together, although he hates getting wet.
“Enzo is not only really smart but also incredibly caring, especially with children,” she said. He has formed a lovely bond with her four-year-old godson.
His first Christmas
In December 2024, Enzo was getting ready for something new: his first Christmas in a loving home. A photo released by the RSPCA shows him indoors beside the Christmas tree in his new home.
“He’s made a remarkable transition from a difficult past to a life filled with love and joy,” Ana said. “His presence has made my days brighter and filled with so much love.”
Why Enzo’s story matters
Enzo’s story was shared as part of the RSPCA’s Join The Christmas Rescue campaign. The charity says abandonment reports in Greater Manchester rose to 1,250 in 2023, up from 942 in 2021.
Ana hopes Enzo inspires others. “There are so many dogs in rescue that need good homes and I think it’s especially hard for bigger breeds like Enzo,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be able to give an unwanted animal a second chance.”
Inspector King agreed: “We’re so grateful to Ana for offering him a fantastic home where he’s loved and enjoying life to the full, just as it should be.” ❤️
Story retold from public reporting. Credit: BBC News / Manchester Evening News / RSPCA. Photos are reference only; usage rights are pending and images will appear only once permission is granted.
Images in this article are illustrative recreations made for this story, not photographs of the dog.
