Tiny the Rottweiler was close to death in a Taiwanese dog pound until a British expat rescued him... just look at him now

Dog rescued from a Taiwanese dog pound after being taken there to die

Charity set up by British expat Sean McCormack took him in

Originally thought he was a mastiff because he was in such a 'bad state'



Barely skin and bones, this emaciated dog was abandoned on a street and left to die.



As the Rottweiler, called Tiny, lay in the pound, his carers thought he had given up hope.



But a British owner took him in, helped him recover, and now this once decrepit animal has won the title of 'Best Dog'.



These staggering images show the miraculous transformation he made after he was picked up from a Taiwanese dog's home by Sean McCormack.



Before and after: The Rottweiler was left for dead in a Taiwanese dog's home, but has since made a staggering recovery after a British expat took him in

Skeleton: He was virtually skin and bones and covered in cuts when he was rescued from the pound Rescued: British expat Sean McCormack's (pictured) charity took the dog in and took him to the vet for treatment

His amazing recovery was recognised during The Ruffs, the RSPCA's alternative to Crufts.

Mr McCormack, 46, said: 'When I first saw Tiny he was big, clearly very sick and, we were told, aggressive so we we agreed to take him in.

'At first, I thought he was a mastiff, because he was in such a bad state that it wasn't clear to me what breed he really was.

'But my friend Jeff, who has two very lucky rescued Rottweilers, knew right away that Tiny was a Rottie.

'His progress was slow but obvious to see, and he turned out to be one of the lucky ones who don't relapse into full-blown mange from time to time.'

Despite fears Tiny was an aggressive animal, he was 'one of the sweetest' animals they had encountered at The Sanctuary.

In pain: Mr McCormack, 46, said Tiny was clearly very sick when he first saw him at The Sanctuary dog's home Health: The staggering images show how successful the transformation has been. Laeila Pereira, a volunteer at the shelter who is looking after him said: 'He looked like he had given up on life.'

Dr. Yang at YangMing Veterinary Hospital in Taipei was the vet who helped with Tiny's recovery.

Mr McCormack said: 'Dr Yang is the one to thank for Tiny's amazing recovery, though we also believe that the natural, happy environment we provide and the healthy, raw diet we feed all our animals played their part in his speedy recuperation.

'We knew we could cure him, but were astounded at what a fantastic dog had been hidden beneath the disease and depression that riddled him when he first came in.'

More than 300,000 people logged onto the RSPCA's Facebook page to vote for Tiny in The Ruffs awards.

Given up: Tiny had a drawn face and deep eyes when after he had been cruelly abandoned on the street. He required extensive treatment to get him back to full health Mr McCormack said: 'We are all over the moon that Tiny was crowned Grand Champion of Ruffs 2014 and hope it serves as food for thought for all those rescue organisations that kill animals like Tiny in order to "end their suffering".' He is now being looked after by Laeila Pereira, a volunteer at the shelter. Miss Pereira said: 'He looked like he had given up on life. I fell immediately in love with the large, loveable Rottie with an ironic name. Personality: Initially, volunteers feared he would be an aggressive dog, but he turned out to be 'sweet'

'I moved into a new apartment just so I could adopt him. He is now a beautiful and very well loved dog.'

Mr McCormack, originally from Folkestone, Kent, moved to Taiwan 15 years ago and set up The Sanctuary to look after unwanted animals which are unlikely to be rehomed.

He cares for feral cats, pigs which outgrew apartments they were kept in, orphaned baby squirrels, and lots of dogs, once-aggressive or fearful, blind and disabled.

But The Sanctuary is now facing an uncertain future after its landlady told Sean she wants to sell the property which is home to 200 rescued animals.

They face the prospect of being made homeless.

Mr McCormack added: 'We are starting an IndieGoGo campaign and hoping to use Tiny's story and Ruffs victory to help bring international attention to our plight.