A LABRADOR was left with an eight-inch wound after yobs slashed open its belly, its owner claims.

Two-year-old Sage was playing in the garden when it received the sickening injury.

6 Labrador Sage was left with an eight-inch wound that exposed its flesh following attack Credit: Mercury Press

6 Vets said Sage's wound could only have been caused by a knife or a blade Credit: Mercury Press

Vets confirmed the large, clean cut, which exposed muscle, was made with a blade in a deliberate attack.

Customer service assistant, Courtney Cartledge, 18, said: "Sage always plays in the front garden.

"My mum had been getting ready to go to work and she noticed from the window that Sage had a cut on her stomach.

"We called her in but she wouldn't come in, which we thought was a bit strange really, she normally comes in straight away.

"When we got her inside we realised just how big the cut was.

"I was in shock and to be honest I still am.

6 Sage's owner Courtney, 18, has been left horrified by the attack Credit: Mercury Press

6 Following the attack Sage has been on medication to combat the pain Credit: Mercury Press

"We took her straight to the vets as the cut was around eight inches long as was really deep.

"The vet said that it was such a clean cut that it must have been done with a knife or a blade- it couldn't have been from her catching her body on something in the garden.

"It was so deep that the flesh was actually hanging off.

"The vet stitched it back up and gave us some pain medication for her."

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Courtney, from Musselburgh, Scotland, says Sage hasn’t been the same since the attack on August 10.

She explained: "Sage has become quite wary of going outside now.

"She won't go out unless we go out with her so we haven't taken her for a walk yet because she is so nervous.

"Sage is still in quite a lot of pain too, she is on pain-killers but we have had to up her dosage as she was really struggling with the pain.

"It is worrying as whoever did this just did it to a random dog on the street.

6 Owner Courtney has told how Sage has been left traumatised by the senseless attack

6 Cops are investigating the attack earlier this month Credit: Mercury Press

"They could quite easily do it to another animal.”

"Thankfully no other animals on our road have been hurt but it doesn't mean they won't do it again.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Police are investigating after a dog suffered an injury to its body whilst in a garden in the Pinkie area of Musselburgh on Thursday 10th August.

"Officers from Musselburgh Police Station want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen or heard anything suspicious, contact Police Scotland."

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