A dog found tied to a tree in such a bad condition that he needed a leg amputated has now found a loving home, thanks to the work of one animal rescue.

Paddy was found outside the Humane Society of Charlotte in August 2024, tied to a tree, severely matted, underweight, struggling to walk and covered in fleas, pressure sores, urine and feces.

Paddy’s matting was so bad that he had to be sedated to remove the fur before the rescuers could examine him—and, when they did so, they realized he had a “chronic, complicated fracture of his right femur.”

Meg Doherty, marketing and communications manager of the rescue, told Newsweek she and her colleagues don’t know who “found him or left him with us, but we were grateful to have him in our care”—and Paddy’s road to recovery started straight away.

A pain management and refeeding plan was set up, and as Paddy got stronger, he was placed in a foster home to help him recuperate emotionally.

Sadly, there was nothing they could do for Paddy’s extensively damaged leg, and it had to be amputated—but “he recovered well and quickly adapted to life as a tripod.”

“He continued to gain healthy weight, his wounds healed, and his personality blossomed. Paddy was friendly with people, dogs, and cats, and enjoyed resting close to his caregivers,” Doherty said. And he got the happy ending he deserved, as he was soon adopted and is now “thriving in a loving home.”

From left: Paddy is tethered on the day he was found; and now sticks his tongue out on a woodland walk. | Facebook / Humane Society of Charlotte

The Humane Society of Charlotte shared Paddy’s story to its Facebook page on December 2, showing the devastating photos of the day he was found, followed by his recovery into a happy and loved pet.

The post had a big reaction online, racking up close to 6,000 reactions, with hundreds commenting to share their own stories and thank the rescue for their work.

“Wonderful how she has improved,” one reader wrote. “I just don’t understand how cruel people can be. Blessings.”

“Thankful Paddy was brought to HSC to assist and get him the care he deserves. Handsome fella and praying he’s found his forever home,” another said. “Thank you to HSC for doing what you do and making a difference in the community.”

And a third shared: “I got a husky that someone tied to a tree in the forest. when I got her she weighed 22 lbs. after much love and attention she gained weight and went on to be a wonderful sweet girl we loved for 10 years.”

In a comment, the HSC added that it is thankful for the community “rallying around Paddy,” but added: “While his situation is heartbreaking, we try not to make assumptions about the circumstances his former owners were facing. What matters most is that Paddy received the medical care he needed and is now safe, loved, and healing. Thank you for supporting the work that makes that possible.”

Paddy’s story came to an end when adopter Alyce O’Shea took him into her home in November 2024, after she and her husband moved to Charlotte and learned about the HSC’s work.

“I immediately thought he was a great fit because we were looking for a high-energy pup. His post stated he had lost one of his back legs, but that didn’t slow him down,” O’Shea told Newsweek. “On the day after Thanksgiving, I went to meet Paddy, and my whole family—brother, sister-in-law, and my nieces—came along.”

From left: Paddy is seen before his matted fur was treated, and relaxes now with cropped hair. | Facebook / Humane Society of Charlotte

O’Shea said it was clear how much the HSC loved Paddy, and within a few minutes of meeting him, she did too—and told her family he was “100 percent coming home with us.”

Paddy became an instant hit, quickly bonding with their German shepherd mix Bingo, and even getting plenty of attention from strangers when out and about.

“Taking Paddy to the dog park is truly joyful,” she said. “Despite his missing back leg, he sometimes runs faster than the other dogs.

“It’s lovely to watch him run and play. People often approach me, amazed they’ve been watching Paddy run for 15 minutes before realizing he is missing a back leg. That truly reflects how well he’s thriving!”

O’Shea also loves telling his stories to people she meets, and how the HSC helped him heal. She went on to thank the HSC rescuers “for offering such lifesaving services and care, ensuring he had the best chance at recovery and adoption.”

“Their dedication to rehabilitating animals and finding them homes has deeply inspired me,” she said, and added: “As a result, I now volunteer there, wanting to give back and support their incredible efforts in any way I can.”