A dog has finally found a loving home after being rescued from his previous owner who battered him with an axe.
Neo, a 12-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross, was left with horrific injuries after his owner Peter Hillin struck him with the weapon.
He was nursed back to health alongside his brother Santos, who was also injured, but was overlooked for two years in a rescue centre.
Now, he has been given a loving home in Altrincham by new foster parents Connor Robinson and Millie Catterall.
Neo was rescued after shocked neighbours saw Hillin, 47, striking him and alerted the police.
He was found by officers covered in bloody cuts and wounds.
Armed officers arrested Hillin at his house in Huyton, Merseyside, on December 3, 2017.
He claimed he only used the handle of the axe to strike Neo when it attacked his other dog, Santos.
But a vet dealing with Neo’s horrific injuries told a court he believed the injuries were consistent with numerous blows with the sharp end of the axe.
Santos received minor injuries.
After being rescued, Neo spent six months in police kennels before being moved to Freshfields Animal Rescue in Liverpool.
He was overlooked for two years before Connor and Millie decided to rescue him.
"We have been following Neo since he first came to Freshfields", Millie said.
"I have rescued dogs in the past and now am in a position to adopt. Our landlord was great and very understanding.
"When we first met Neo it was on the exercise field at Freshfields, and he made both of us smile with his antics! He loves his tennis balls."
The couple visited Neo three times a week before taking him home.
"Neo has settled in brilliantly", Millie added.
"He’s so happy when he’s snuggled between us on the sofa. He’s changed our lives and we’ve changed his."
Peter Hillin was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He was given a 20 prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
Keith Webster, defending, told the court hearing that his client 'did not wake up that morning and decide to injure his dogs'.
Dawn Hurst, operations manager at the rescue centre in Liverpool said: "We know that Neo will be so happy with Connor and Millie."
