KEY POINTS:
Bobby was found a week ago in a Waitakere backyard with his jaws clamped shut with duct tape and his legs hobbled by rope.
Part of the 2-year-old dog's tongue and mouth had decayed and his mouth and legs had deep bloody wounds where the bindings had cut into flesh.
But yesterday, Bobby showed a rapid recovery from surgery to remove part of his tongue and with the remainder was enthusiastically lapping at his water bowl.
"His face was so swollen with scars and dead tissue that it was hard to tell what breed he was," said Waitakere animal welfare manager Neil Wells.
"But now the swelling has gone, we think he's a mastiff -labrador cross."
Mr Wells said officers removed the dog from a Massey property after a member of the public saw him shuffling along the street because his hind legs were hobbled by rope.
Officers also found the dog's jaws closed by electrical tape ... "more than once it would seem, going by the scars," said Mr Wells.
His muzzle of tape meant he could not pant properly - a dog's cooling system. Mr Wells said
it was the first time he had seen tape used for this in New Zealand.
The owner surrendered Bobby who, after a final vet check, will be available to a new home next week.
Does he still wag his tail? Mr Wells: "Yes, that's the remarkable thing. When he first came in he had no problem with female staff but us males got a growling at for the first few days.
"His nature is good, in fact, he's a pussy cat."
Mr Wells said an investigation was being a carried out with a view to prosecuting the owner under the Animal Welfare Act.
Normal penalties under the act are up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of $25,000, or both.
Waitakere Animal Welfare adoption line; ph 839 0400.
