A DOG was left fighting for his life after injuring himself on a motorbike that had been dumped in a field.

Becca Haybyrne had thrown a ball for her German Shepherd Winston to chase when she heard him yelp. She was horrified to find he had a deep cut in his leg and his nail had been ripped off.

The two-year-old has still not fully recovered from the incident, which happened two months ago in a field next to Greenbridge Road.

“It makes me really angry and upset that someone did that and didn’t think about what could happen,” said Becca. 

“It’s very frustrating because he was just enjoying himself. We shouldn’t have to worry about whether there’s going to be something in the grass, we should be able to do it carefree. 

“I reported it to Swindon Borough Council the day it happened, then they said it wasn’t their responsibility and said it was the parish council. When Winston got really sick I emailed them telling them it’s not funny and I don’t care who needs to move it but it needs to be gone. It then moved it the next day.

“It’s been scary, we’ve had a lot of sleepless nights. The vets have been fantastic, I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done.”

Winston was taken to Eastcott Vets, where his wound was stitched and he was given antibiotics – but that was just the start. 

A couple of weeks later his eyes had sunken and he couldn’t hold his ears up so Becca knew something was wrong and took him back to the vets. She says they weren’t sure what was wrong and said it would be best to wait and see what happens – with a visit to a neurologist the next step. 

It emerged he had tetanus when he wasn’t eating or drinking and made a snort-like sound, so his paw was amputated.

He is still being treated after healing complications. 

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “Flytipping is a blight on local communities, which is carried out by a selfish minority who cannot be bothered to dispose of their waste or unwanted items responsibly and in the normal manner. It costs time and money to clear up which, frankly, could be better spent elsewhere.

“We now have a really efficient online booking system at our Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is free to all Swindon residents, so there really is no excuse for people dumping their rubbish in local neighbourhoods or in rural locations.”