A DOG found with its throat cut and mouth taped shut has survived after the jagged knife used to slice its neck missed vital veins by less than a centimetre.
Franky, an 18-month-old female staffy cross, was found by police last Thursday at Gordonvale’s Ross and Locke picnic area with a deep, 10cm-long cut across its throat and jaw bound shut with electrical tape.
It is the second shocking case of animal cruelty in the Far North this year.
A dog named Boof made national headlines in January after being beaten and left to die with a 30kg chain around its neck.
The treatment of Franky has sickened animal carers.
Earlville Veterinary Surgery’s Sarah Gill used 30 stitches to seal the 3cm-deep cut, which she said was less than a centimetre from jugular veins and carotid arteries.
"The way they cut was almost down to the larynx, so muscles were cut but luckily they missed the jugular veins," she said.
"If they had of managed to hit those veins or the carotid arteries, she would have died."
Franky is recovering at Cairns Regional Council’s pound.
RSPCA Far Northern inspector Cameron Buswell said it was obvious the dog’s attacker was trying to kill it.
"RSPCA are very keen to speak to anyone who might have seen the dog on the day or before to try and establish what has occurred," he said.
"This is a horrific case of cruelty to this poor animal that was left for dead on the day."
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Staffordshire bull terrier (file photo) 
In what the  calls a "horrific" case of animal cruelty, a dog's jaw was taped shut, and its throat cut, in , Australia.

The Staffordshire mix, who was found by police in a critical condition last Thursday, was reportedly struggling to breath and bleeding heavily due to her throat being slashed and her muzzle being bound.

"The way they cut was almost down to the larynx, so muscles were cut but luckily they missed the jugular veins," said Sarah Gill, the vet who stitched the 10 cm long, 3 cm deep cut.

In a statement reported on Tuesday, Inspector Cameron Buswell, a law enforcement officer with the RSPCA animal welfare charity, said it is hard to comprehend that there are people in the community capable of this level of cruelty.

"This would have to be up there as one of the more horrific cases we've dealt with ...The poor dog must have been petrified. How she didn't die is miraculous." he said.

Named 'Franky' by rescuers, the dog is progressing well along her road to recovery, has a warm, loving and kind nature, and has begun to come out of her shell, Buswell said.

"She is a really nice natured animal and she loves being with people."

This has become apart of string of violent attacks on pets in  Queensland. Another dog in North Queensland named 'Boof' was beaten and left to die with a 30 kg chain around his neck in January. In May, a family dog in  had its throat slit and a rubber band placed around the wound, twice. 

The RSPCA is appealing for information from the public regarding the person or persons responsible for the latest attack.