Thousands of dreadfully abused, tortured, injured and diseased dogs – many close to death – have been subjected to 'a life of hell' on the streets of Romania before being rescued by volunteers.

In one case, all four legs of a dog had been partially and deliberately hacked off with an axe by a teenage boy. Another young dog suffered a blood clot after official dog catchers fired a four-inch nail between his eyes. This weekend a puppy was also discovered 'buried alive' in a deep freezer beside the bodies of other puppies.

Skeletal, blinded, and bleeding, the dogs are left to die or deliberately slaughtered according to the UK-registered Paws2Rescue charity, which says tortured or starving dogs are discovered every day.

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Abandoned: These puppies were rescued from so-called shelters in Bacau and Bucharest where they are typically collected for slaughter. They are among the thousands who undergo a 'life of hell' on the streets of Romania - where it is not unusual for dogs to be attacked, tortured, or simply left to starve

Cruel ending: Even the dog shelters, where people assume the dogs should be kept safe, are little more than 'death factories', as dogs rounded up on the streets have just two weeks from capture until they are collected by slaughterers and then killed

Heartbreaking: This tiny puppy was rescued from a public shelters in Odai suffering from a horrific skin complaint and left to languish without treatment

Horrific: This puppy was found in one of the government-run shelters, suffering a skin complaint. Sadly, it was too late to rescue him. Other volunteers working with British registered charity Paws2Rescue describe finding dogs killed with poison, kept with dead canines and one even tied to a train line so the legs were severed

Inhumane: The charity Paws2Rescue has been successful in closing several shelters, including one in Bucharest described as 'shocking' where autopsies on 13 dogs showed they had been poisoned and died in agony

Tiny and alone: The tiny puppy seen above was rescued from the shelters at Bacau and Bucharest, where he had been caged with much bigger, older animals

Saved: This puppy - despite appearances to the contrary - was one of the lucky ones. They have been rescued by the volunteers, and at least have a chance to recover from their horrific treatment

They highlight a disturbing catalogue of cases on their files, including:

A dog so badly beaten its eyes had literally popped out when rescue workers found it in a pool of its own blood.

A young dog tied to a tram line so that it two back legs were severed by the speeding tram.

A chain tied so tightly around a puppy's throat that it left a gaping, bleeding wound.

A dog that had its jaw hacked open with an axe so that it was hanging by the skin when rescued.

A dog catcher pole and wire embedded so tightly in a dog it broke its teeth trying to escape.

Dogs inhumanely poisoned at official shelters.

Dead dogs kept in with living animals.

'It is so shocking, nothing can quite prepare you for what we have seen,' said Alison Standbridge, a 46-year-old mother-of-two, who helped found the charity.

'We have seen quite appalling, harrowing cases of dogs that have been beaten and bloodied, slashed with weapons, stoned, driven down by cars and left to die and, sometimes, few people in Romania's towns and cities seem to care.

'Some of the dogs we find are no more than a bag of bones, their ribs pressing through what remains of their coats – it is pitiful…so cruel.'

The risk and insurance executive from Sutton, Surrey, who travels monthly to Romania, continued: 'Our aims are to rescue dogs from the streets, public shelters where they can be officially killed after 14 days and from shocking conditions while increasing the awareness of what is happening in Romania, a fellow member of the EU.'

Sacks or boxes of unwanted puppies are regularly hung to the fence of the shelters they operate with local partners in the Romanian capital Bucharest while others have been chained to the gates or just thrown over them into the compound.

Horrendous: Nothing can prepare you for what rescuers have seen in Romania, says Paws2Rescue co-founder Alison Standbridge, of Sutton, Surrey, who travels to Romania once a month. Corbu's case in particular has struck a nerve, after he was discovered with all four legs hacked off

Recovery: Corbu was rescued and has been measured for a cart to help it move around while the charity fundraises for prosthetics. Meanwhile there has been no police investigation into who mutilated the animal

Unbelievable: Each of his legs had been partially and deliberately hacked off with an axe by a teenage boy. Residents had been leaving bread for it to eat but it was lying in agony for 24 hours before it was rescued

On one occasion, a wheelbarrow of dead dogs was dumped outside.

We have seen quite appalling, harrowing cases of dogs that have been beaten and bloodied, slashed with weapons, stoned, driven down by cars and left to die. Charity co-founder Alison Standbridge

More than 1,150 dogs have been rescued, treated and found new homes with families in Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Canada and the United States with one becoming a prize winner and another put forward for Crufts, the world's largest dog show.

Celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, actress Samantha Womack, Downton Abbey star Peter Egan and Saffron from Republica have all provided support with fund raising while donations have come in from double Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and former model and singer Sam Fox.

Queen's Brian May and actress Anita Dobson have also offered support as the tireless work of the small charity becomes better known.

All have been shocked by the extent of abuse of dogs in Romania where corruption and local politics contribute to the problems, according to the charity, whose volunteers have faced physical threats.

Vulnerable: Sacks of puppies are often left hanging on the gates of the charity's shelters, while others are simply thrown over them into the compound. There is hope this little one will survive, however

Gruesome: Just this weekend, volunteers rescued a puppy that had been shut in a deep freezer beside the bodies of other puppies (pictured). It is not uncommon to find boxes of puppies dumped outside their shelters

Pitiful: The tiny puppy had been left to die alongside the bodies of other puppies in the freezer. Alison confessed that sometimes 'you can't believe' the cruelty you witness working in Romania

The EU allows each member country to set their own laws in management of strays. Romania’s current policy – dubbed ‘catch and kill’ – is based around the capture and euthanasia of stray dogs after 14 working days following incarceration.

Officials say that the equivalent of millions of pounds have been spent on dealing with the problem of strays but critics claim it is inhumane, feeds corruption, conditions in the shelters are often ‘horrific’ and that dogs can die a ‘painful’ death.

‘Romania's dog shelters are nothing but death camps of the worst kind with no consideration given to the fact that dogs are “sentient beings” who feel pain, fear and distress,’ one organisation that reported on the treatment of dogs said.

Perhaps the most shocking example of that abuse has been the case of a dog now called Corbu, found in March lying on grass in agony.

Stomach churning: Alesia was found with her lower jaw hanging off - apparently hacked off with an axe in an unbelievable act of cruelty. She was then left to survive alone - until Paws2Rescue came along and found her

Disgusting: This puppy, named Bruno, was discovered in amongst the rubbish in this garden - just one example of the appalling conditions dogs are found in by the charity and its supporters

Tragic: He had been tied up so tightly it had left him with a gaping wound on his neck. Despite the teams best efforts, Bruno did not survive the surgery to save his life

A 16-year-old boy is said to have attacked him with an axe, cutting off all four legs at different points.

Some of the dogs we find are no more than a bag of bones, their ribs pressing through what remains of their coats – it is pitiful…so cruel. Charity co-founder Alison Standbridge

'One was hanging off,' Alison said, 'He had been there for 24 hours by the time our rescuers arrived and took him to the vet. Locals had fed him with bread.

'He is now recovering with four uneven stumps healing well. He is a very gentle and loving male, around five years old.

'We hope that he may be adopted but we are making plans for his future life and he has been measured for a cart that will raise him off the floor and give him a chance of a normal life.

'Our rescuers here in Romania, along with the vet, are talking to prosthetics manufacturers in the UK with the aims of fundraising for these and he should then be able to lead a reasonably normal life.'

Uninhabitable: One shelter the team visited was next to a dump, and the water was polluted and not fit to drink

Brutal: Officials say that the equivalent of millions of pounds have been spent on dealing with the problem of strays but critics claim it is inhumane, feeds corruption, conditions in the shelters are often ‘horrific’ and that dogs can die a ‘painful’ death

Horror shelter: ‘Romania's dog shelters are nothing but death camps of the worst kind with no consideration given to the fact that dogs are “sentient beings” who feel pain, fear and distress,’ said one organisation that reported on the treatment

Awful: Camps such as these pictured, in Bacau and Bucharest, are simply holding areas where dog catchers then come and collect the dogs for 'extermination'

No food: The camps, such as those in Bacau and Bucharest, do not treat or feed the dogs properly resulting in pictures of emaciation such as this poor animal above

Desperate: The animals act in a frenzied manner when anyone comes to their cages in the shelters at Bacau and Bucharest

Despite believing they know who was responsible, there has been no police investigation and the teenager continues to walk the streets.

Amazingly, some of those rescued that have lost legs are able to live comfortably with families who have adopted them, including Mandi, the dog whose back legs were severed in June 2015 when tied to a tram track. She now lives happily in the UK.

Rescue teams hope that a new home can be found too for Braxton, the young dog who is recovering from surgery and appears to have no lasting physical damage after a nail was fired between his eyes in the town of Moinesti.

Families: One of the things Paws2Rescue does is match the dogs they find to new families - Angelica is one of more than 1,150 dogs have been rescued, treated and found new homes in Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Canada and the United States

Blinded: When she was found, Angelica was in a dreadful state, with severe injuries to her left eye

Struggle: Despite the support of the public, without help from officials in the country, the charity finds that they can't operate as efficiently as they could if they had their support - which means not being able to save as many dogs like Angelica as they would like

Forever: However, after seeing the shocking images and hearing about the charity's work, many families are delighted to be able to offer the animals like Angelica a home free from suffering

Dog-catchers working for the local authority had shot him with a tranquiliser – between the eyes.

One of the charity's rescue team found him in a public shelter – there are dozens across Romania but many are said to have appalling conditions – and drove him five hours to the vet in Bucharest.

A MRI scan revealed a blood clot in his head, and he was booked in for surgery. However, the next day he had difficulty walking and appeared dizzy.

He underwent an emergency operation that saw a four-inch nail removed.

Moinesti is one of the areas where the charity has filmed 'inhumane' methods of dog catching to expose them in conjunction with Romanian TV.

The Mayor was fined and dog catching suspended.

Officials rejected an offer from Paws2Rescue to run the public shelter, provide food and conduct a neuter programme – an important part of their work – but this was rejected.

It was in the shelter at Moinesti that in August 2015, the rescue team found Buddy, who Alison described as 'a blind with such appalling skin condition, he had been left to rot and die.

Making money: Unbelievably, there are some towns where the residents are allegedly paid to kill dogs

Petrified puppies: The two tiny dogs above, Ned and Dexter were found in Moinesti public shelter in February

Opposition: Alison says, while some authorities work with the charity, others are against them

Generous: But thanks to their supports, Paws2Rescue can send donated food to volunterrs and Romanian NGOs, including Asociatia Kola Kariola which looks after the abandoned and rescued puppies

'It was truly sickening,' she said, 'This shelter is another horrific one, the smell reaching your senses before seeing the shelter, it is built next to the industrial garbage area and is vile.

'Last year we were told that the water is industrial grade and not good for the dogs. We knew we could not leave Buddy, who was an old dog, behind.

'He stayed at the vet for a short while for his treatments and to help his skin improve, and after that he was kept in a special enclosure at the private shelter to complete his rehab with fresh air and good food. Before Christmas 2015, Buddy came to the UK where he has been adopted and lives happily in Scotland with his family.'

The charity has been successful in closing several shelters, including one in Bucharest described as 'shocking' where autopsies on 13 dogs showed they had been poisoned and died in agony.

In Bucharest, the neuter campaign has been far more successful with support from the Mayor, the priest and police allowing 250 dogs to be treated.

Uphill battle: This dog was captured and taken to Mihailesti, an animal shelter where conditions were found the be among the worst in the country when animal activisits went in with cameras to expose it

Neglected: This dog - the same as pictured above - was found matted and starving. The annual budget for a public shelter is 260,000 euros (£204,000) for 200 dogs - although food is always basic and scarce

Survivor: After being taken in and cared for by the charity, the animal seems completely changed and looks as though it can enjoy life once again

Horrific: This dog had been beaten so severely by the time that it was found by volunteers its eyes had popped out and it was lying in a pool of its own blood

But Alison said that in some towns where people are allegedly paid to kill dogs, there is a reluctance to help.

'Without the Mayor or police's physical involvement, it is difficult,' she said. 'People we have spoken to do not believe it is right to neuter dogs, and we wonder if this has been suggested by local priests.'

Indeed, in a country where the average wage is £175 per month dog catchers are paid £44 per animal and are reluctant to see the dog population reduced, experts say.

The charity, founded in 2013, is funded purely by donations, the majority coming from social media or to help particular dogs found in extreme conditions. It costs around £250 to bring a dog to the UK, £25 to neuter an owned dog and provide microchip and registration book, or £21 a stray – by far the most common dogs treated by Paws2Rescue.

Brutal: Braxton was left to die after dog catchers fired a nail between this dog's eyes in the town of Moinesti

Turned away: It was left to the charity to save his life. Paws2Rescue also offered to run the public shelter in Moinesti, provide food and offer a neuter programme, but they were rejected by officials

A vet had to extract the nail, pictured right, which was fired between his eyes in the town of Moinesti

Recovered: Today, Braxton is happy and healthy, but with dog catchers earning £44 for every dog caught, despicable and desperate methods like these seem unlikely to stop any time soon

Dozens of dogs are injured in car accidents, some deliberately, and treatment costs an average of £300 while food for one month per dog costs around £10. The scale of the costs is illustrated by the fact that partner NGOs in Bucharest currently have 500 dogs in care while in another area they are caring for 760, including 600 in a public shelter.

A dogcatchers is paid by the local authority EU50 per dog caught and brought to a public shelter.

An example of an annual budget for a public shelter is EU260,000 for 200 dogs - although food is always basic and scarce.

The charity's general manager Julie Parker manages a team of 18 volunteers in the UK and one in Germany in addition to a network Romania of three partner NGO's and 30 individual rescuers. Six of the UK team will travel to Romania on a rotation basis each month to help with work on the ground.

Stray: Daisy was filmed being captured by dog wardens, another example of the brutality used. She was one of 80 dogs involved in an illegal raid on a government owned dog shelter in Bucharest

Vicious: But the methods they use can be inhumane, and Daisy appears to have been injured fighting with the wardens, pulling his teeth out on the pole the wardens are holding

Recovery: But Daisy, as she has been named, is doing much better after rescue workers found her and has been adopted by a new family in California

Every month donated food collected in the UK is taken to Romania by van and lorry where volunteers and Romanian NGOs, including Asociatia Kola Kariola which looks after the abandoned and rescued puppies.

The British Embassy in Bucharest has also given its backing to the work of Paws2Rescue but is limited in its influence. Alison said: ‘There are dog owners, volunteers and vets in Romania that care passionately about the welfare of dogs and do wonderful work but tens of thousands are still suffering.

‘Some authorities are now working with us, others are working against us. It is a macho society and dog catching is good business in many communities so they are resistant to anything that impacts on this, including paying more to improve the conditions of shelter. With the help of Romanian television, we have shamed some into change by highlighting the appalling treatment. We will continue to do this.’

Harrowing: Images of the abused dogs are so sickening that celebrities have rushed to offer their support to the charity. This poor girl was found wandering the streets in Bucharest, with half of her face eaten away was a shocking sight. After our rescuers took her to the vet, it transpires that her face had been eaten by a tumour which had infected her face. This has been removed, and when the face dries up, she will have reconstructive surgery

Rife: The charity claims cruelty to dogs is institutional in Romania, with many people turning a blind eye

Sucesses: Some of the shelters have now put a 'no kill' policy in place thanks to Paws2Rescue

'We have wonderful vets and help in Romania and it is very much a team effort,' Alison added. 'Our aims are to rescue dogs from the streets, public shelters, or from shocking conditions, and support our Romanian NGO partners and rescuers in providing these dogs a safe shelter, so that they can live a life knowing love, good food and treatment.

'Whilst the lucky few dogs we will adopt into homes mainly in the UK, but also anywhere in the world, our key aim is to help rescuers with the thousands in their care.

'We also directly try to work with public shelters, run by the local authorities, to improve the conditions for the dogs - some of these have indeed become 'no kill' shelters now. If the public shelters will not work with us, or if conditions are appalling, we will expose them on social media and on Romanian national TV - we have done this at 4 public shelters in the last six months.

'Our aims in the UK are to increase awareness to the public of the inhumane treatment of dogs in Romania, and to gain support for our work out there.'

To donate to Paws2Rescue click here.

Future: However, they are hopeful they can change, heaping praise on the local volunteers and vets who work hard to save the dogs they rescue

Plan: They are not only running their own shelters now, but also neutering the dogs to get the numbers under control in a humane way so more puppies like these ones don't have to suffer

Lucky: Alison and the rest of her team are continuing the struggle to get Romania's public animal shelters on their side, but if they can't they 'will expose them on social media and national TV'