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Potato, a four-year-old brown-and-white pit bull found tied to a street sign in the Bronx, recovered from a severe neck wound and was adopted by Leigh and her son Hayden. His earlier circumstances remain unknown; the ASPCA said the wound was likely caused by an overly tight collar, but did not establish how it happened or whether it was intentional.
Found injured in the Bronx
On April 23, 2024, bystanders found Potato tied to a street sign and called the NYPD. Officers brought him to Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), which the ASPCA describes as an emergency, 24-hour facility and partner hospital.
His initial examination revealed a chronic, gaping wound that partly encircled his neck. The ASPCA reported that it was likely caused by an overly tight collar. A CT scan showed soft-tissue swelling in his neck and face, as well as permanent injury to his jugular veins. He also had bleeding at the corners of his mouth, dehydration, dental disease, soiled hair and scabs. His bark was hoarse, likely because of tissue damage.
ASPCA forensic veterinarian Dr. Jasmine Bruno described Potato as “one of the worst cases of neck injuries I’ve seen.” She also cautioned that his history was unclear: “We don’t know his previous circumstances, but Potato’s condition didn’t happen overnight.” The ASPCA account does not identify who caused the wound or establish Potato’s full past.
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Emergency treatment and a careful recovery
Medical care for the wound
AMC performed advanced imaging and surgery. Potato transferred to ASPCA care on April 26, 2024, for continued treatment. The ASPCA reports that his care included fluids, antibiotics, pain medication, daily wound cleaning and frequent bandage changes under sedation. Later treatment included warm compresses, oral medication, surgical closure and suturing of the wound, and neutering.
Rebuilding his weight
At ASPCA intake, Potato weighed 43.6 pounds and was emaciated. Because prolonged malnutrition can make feeding too many calories too quickly dangerous, staff used a specific refeeding protocol intended to avoid illness. By June 14, the ASPCA reported that his weight had reached 55.7 pounds, which it described as healthy.
These figures belong to Potato’s individual case; they are not general recovery targets or evidence of typical outcomes for other dogs.
Learning new routines at the Animal Recovery Center
Medical healing was only part of the transition. At the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center, staff worked with Potato on food manners and greetings with other dogs. To reduce opportunities for scavenging, they cleared garbage bins and kept treats out of reach. Behavior associate Sara Eisenberg used tossed food and rewards to encourage gentler treat-taking and brief greetings.
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“Every time he saw a dog, inside or outside, I’d reward him with treats,” Eisenberg said. Potato made progress to the point of coexisting off-leash with another dog in a room, according to the ASPCA account.
Adopted as Papi
Leigh and her son Hayden came to meet Potato while looking for a cuddly, low-energy dog. They adopted him on the day they visited the ASPCA. Leigh later called him Papi and described him as “the most well-behaved and intelligent canine child I’ve ever had.” She also said, “Papi’s been nothing but good and appreciative.”
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What Potato’s story says about collar fit
Dr. Bruno explained that a collar or ligature left around an animal’s neck can become too tight if it is not adjusted as the animal grows. Constant pressure can lead to inflammation, infection and tissue damage. A collar-fit check is therefore a routine worth repeating as a dog grows or changes size: make sure the collar is not pressing or constricting the neck, and readjust it when needed.
That practical lesson should not be mistaken for a diagnosis of exactly how Potato was injured. The ASPCA account says an overly tight collar was the likely cause, but does not establish the circumstances or intent behind his wound, and it does not endorse a particular collar type or product. The medical and behavioral details here are from the ASPCA’s account published December 9, 2025.
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