Star’s story touched the hearts of millions of dog lovers around the world. The dog was buried in the ground and found purely by chance by animal welfare officers who happened to be in the area.
When they found her, she had been bound, shot 40 times and buried in the ground. Only her nose could be seen through the earth. They pulled her from the ground and, despite her horrific condition, she still managed to wag her tail!
Star’s former owner, Alfred Vella, was located and confessed to charges of animal cruelty. He claimed he had shot Star because she was old. The Malta man received a sentence of 3 months in jail and a fine of €10,000. As a result of the case, there was a call for stiffer animal cruelty laws in Malta.
Star received an outpouring of support. A week after her rescue, Star looked like she was on the road to recovery, but she passed away suddenly due to complications from her injuries. She passed away while in the loving care of her adoptive family and caregivers.
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