A dog so emaciated that every bone in her body is visible is being cared for in Cambridgeshire after being found abandoned on New Year’s Day. She was just skin and bone when she was discovered on a country lane.
The Lurcher – who has since been named Peanut by rescuers – was found by concerned members of the public who took her straight to an emergency vet. She also had multiple pressure sores on her legs, indicative of laying on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
The three-year-old dog is now being cared for at the RSPCA’s Block Fen Centre in March. The animal charity says she was almost lifeless when she arrived and is still extremely poorly.
However she is showing small signs of improvement and has started to stand up by herself. Due to how emaciated she is, she will be given small regular meals to slowly build up her weight.
Tiffany Saunders, kennel supervisor said: “It was heart breaking to see how emaciated Peanut was and that she was covered in pressure sores which we think are a result of her laying on hard surfaces for a long time. But thankfully, we are seeing small signs of improvement every day – at first she was lifeless but she can now stand up by herself and she even jumped up and ran out of her kennel for her breakfast.
The RSPCA said she is so emaciated that every bone in her body can be seen
(Image: RSPCA)
“She’s certainly feeling much better though and it is really lovely to see her tail wag! Her weight gain is understandably a bit of a slow process as she was incredibly emaciated, so we are needing to introduce her food in small regular meals.
“She is under the care of a vet and the plan is to continue to build her weight back up. She has a great appetite so we are fairly confident at this stage that she has just been starved and that illness isn’t the cause of her current emaciated state.”
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer David Allen is investigating the incident. He said: “The condition that Peanut was in is just appalling and quite shocking.
“She’s the thinnest dog I have ever seen and I cannot understand how anyone could allow this to happen. We are so grateful to everyone who helped Peanut including the branch, the vets and the finders – I’m just grateful she is now in a place of safety at Block Fen and hopefully with their expert care she will continue to improve.”
An RSPCA inspector said Peanut is the “thinnest dog I have ever seen”
(Image: RSPCA)
The RSPCA is now appealing for information about Peanut’s owner and how she came to be dumped on the country lane off Dunton Road in Biggleswade.
David added: “I am investigating this incident and want to speak to anyone who may have any information regarding who owned Peanut. She was microchipped, and the person who was registered on the chip had sold her on when she was just six months old.
“I am keen to speak to anyone who may know who her owner is now, or may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area on New Year’s Day.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018.
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