Facebook users in Northwest Georgia who have logged on recently may stumbled upon a photo of Braveheart, an injured 1½-year-old pitbull mix.

Judy Lawson, founder of the Animal Rescue League of Northwest Georgia, came across the shocking photo of the mutilated dog Tuesday on Facebook and immediately contacted the Murray County Animal Shelter. According to Lawson, after the owners came home to find a dog with a slit throat, it was surrendered to the shelter because of lack of finances to tend to the injury.

Braveheart has since been in care at Whatley-Kinney Animal Clinic in Plainville, where he has undergone an extensive surgery.

Dr. Kathy Kinney said she “cleaned up a two-day-old wound that reached but did not penetrate the trachea. No blood vessels or nerves were injured.”

Kinney also stated that the clinic placed in a drain, closed the incision and sutured it back up. Braveheart has been on antibiotics and pain-relievers since the procedure Wednesday.

“He’s recovering well, and we expect a full recovery,” Kinney said.

It remains unknown whether or not Braveheart will be able to bark again, but he can be heard whimpering between loving licks at the clinic.

The Animal Rescue League of Northwest Georgia is offering a $1,500 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible for the mutilation.

Donations to help support the financial costs of the surgery and recovery of Braveheart can be made online at ARLofNWGA.petfinder.com or at the Whatley-Kinney Animal Clinic. All donations exceeding the procedure costs will benefit other animals of the rescue league with medical conditions.

For more information about the Animal Rescue League of Northwest Georgia and for updates about Braveheart, log on to Facebook and “like” their page.