A VICIOUS dog-fighting ring is active in Melbourne’s west, according to a woman whose missing pooch returned home with horrific injuries and a rope tied to his back leg.

Alfie was barely alive when his owner, Sheena, found him bloodied and covered in puncture wounds on the doorstep of their Sunshine home on Friday — 24 hours after he went missing.

Sheena believes her loyal kelpie-labrador-cross was stolen from their Fraser St backyard sometime between 11am and 6pm on Thursday to be used in an organised dogfight.

But the brave canine miraculously managed to escape the clutches of the dognappers and make his way home despite suffering horrific injuries, including a 10cm-deep and 20cm-long gash which came within millimetres of his jugular artery.

The three-year-old was rushed to Advanced Vetcare in Kensington, where he last night remained in a stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery and a blood transfusion.

Vets fear his injuries were not only from a dogfight but also an attack with a knife.

“I find it unbelievable that there’s people out there who are capable of such cruelty,” Sheena said.

media_camera Alfie following the attack. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Sheena took to social media to share her story and warn other dog owners to be vigilant and take care to secure their pets from becoming victims of a similar fate.

“It doesn’t appear to be a one-off. This vicious act has happened in the area in the past,” she told the Herald Sun.

“It’s just heartbreaking. Alfie may have been under surveillance for some time.

“It just shows your dog’s not safe unless they’re in a well-protected space.”

His case has sparked outrage online with residents and dog lovers calling on the culprits to be brought to justice.

Many residents have posted that scouts have been marking houses and fences with chalk to alert the dog thieves where pets are living when they come by later.

One woman wrote: “I hate living in Sunshine even more right now.

“The fear of something happening to my dog is back and it’s an awful feeling. I’m just so glad Alfie made it home. What a trooper.”

Victoria Police earlier this year warned pet owners in the western suburbs to keep their dogs secure after a series of dognappings were reported in Caroline Springs, Werribee and Hillside.

angus.thompson@news.com.au