Fort Worth family believes someone tortured their dog

FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth family is waiting for answers about an attack on their dog.

The Moss family adopted the Saint Bernard they call Big Ben in January. On Monday he disappeared from their yard.

A neighbor later found the dog. He had severe head trauma and his left paw was mangled. Several toes appeared to be cut off.

“He was like, ‘He’s in really bad condition.’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t really think he’s going to make it,” said Cassie Moss, the dog’s owner.

Big Ben did survive, but the vet believes he will be permanently blind in one eye because of the attack. His leg may also need to be amputated because of the tissue damage to his paw.

“Only time will tell how much of that tissue dies away or how infected it is,” said Dr. Karri McCreary with Vet Ranch.

The veterinarian said she can’t be certain for sure what caused the dog’s injuries, but the Mosses said they’ve had yard break-ins before. They believe someone intentionally harmed Big Ben.

The family has asked Fort Worth police to start an animal cruelty investigation.