Digit the blue heeler pup finds forever home after accident and neglect

Remember Digit, the rescue pup with a tragic background of untreated broken legs and shredded paws? She’s about to start a fairytale life.

Remember Digit, the rescue pup with a tragic background of untreated broken legs and shredded paws. She’s about to start a fairytale life.

A lot had to come together for the severely injured blue heeler to find happiness and it finally came to Digit this week when she met her forever family at an RSPCA adoption day in Brisbane.

In November, The Courier-Mail brought readers the story about Digit arriving at the RSPCA as an eight-week-old pup with two broken legs and bone exposed on her paws.

Digit’s sad tale captured hearts across Queensland as readers learned that her owner had allegedly given the pup Nurofen instead of taking her to a vet for urgent medical care after being hit by a car.

Digit (renamed Rio) had extensive surgery at the RSPCA in November.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the shelter’s vets were worried the pup would suffer organ failure from Nurofen so specialist surgery was done to flush poisoning from her system and her badly broken legs were set.

“Digit lost two toes in her front left paw and her broken legs needed a lot of medical attention so it has taken a couple of months for her to be ready for adoption,” Mr Beatty said.

“But Digit, who has been renamed Rio, finally has the chance to have the life she deserves with a family of four adopting her.”

Rio’s new owner Katrina Munn, from Boronia Heights, said the pup was showing no adverse signs of her tragic past.

“We are so thankful to have found her,” Ms Munn said.

“She is smart, obedient and loves her back yard and going for little walks every day with my husband,” Ms Munn said.

The Munn family adopted Digit and say they are thankful to have found her.

Ms Munn said Rio was a perfect match for her daughters Abby, 9, and Scarlett, 7.

“Rio loves the girls as much as they love her. I put Rio in the front seat of the car the other day and straight away she wanted to be in the back with Abby and Scarlett.

“She loves playing ball with them and her next step will be going to puppy school.”

Rio loves her new bed and toys and going for walks with her new family.

While ensuring Rio doesn’t over exert herself, Ms Munn said the pup’s legs and paws had healed well.

“We are surprised what a happy, well-adjusted pup Rio is given her history.

“She obviously received a lot of love and attention from her RSPCA carers as she seems to have put the past behind her.”

The person of interest in Rio’s neglect case has been identified and prosecution proceedings are commencing.

ANOTHER HAPPY PET STORY: Winky finds love