This is the gut-wrenching moment an abused puppy was ‘comforted’ by another dog on the operating table.

Four-month-old boxer Sammie was shot in the head, dragged behind a car, spray painted blue and left for dead in South Carolina.

In the photo, which has been share and liked by almost 20,000 Facebook users, another abused dog, Simon, is seen watching over the canine and has refused to leave his since ever since.