A STRAY dog was found last Friday evening with its right hind paw severed and the remains of its leg stripped of skin and flesh.

The female dog, affectionately known as Kiwi, is part of a group of stray dogs which are fed regularly by volunteers from Action For Singapore Dogs. The volunteers believe that the horrific injuries were caused by traps set for wild boars in the dense vegetation in the Lim Chu Kang area.

These metal traps close around the leg and penetrate the skin and bone.

Some of the dogs in the group had emerged in the past two weeks with wounds on their legs - injuries the volunteers first dismissed as they thought the dogs had been fighting.

But they later found out about the traps when Kiwi showed up bloody and emaciated after being gone for a week.

Kiwi was carried to the group's rescue centre and given painkillers and antibiotics. A vet had to amputate the remainder of the dog's leg yesterday morning.

Mr Ricky Yeo, president of the group, said that despite her wounds, Kiwi was doing well.

Three weeks ago, a pomeranian was found stuffed in a plastic bag near a rubbish bin at East Coast Park. It had been left for dead. The dog was discovered by a marketing executive, who has been caring for it since.

Cases of animal abuse hit a record high in March, when the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received 95 complaints. It usually gets between 60 and 80 reports a month.