A "barely alive” dog has been saved by animal rescuers after losing 98% of his fur and being dumped "like rubbish" in a street by his cruel owners. Terrified Lucas, whose hair fell out due to a skin condition, was the “thinnest” dog RSCPA inspectors had ever seen when they picked him up on a main road.
The distressed greyhound-lurcher cross was originally discovered by police and was so weak he was unable to walk. He was then rushed to a vet, where surgeons found he had a partially rotted-off broken tailbone and sarcoptic mange, a highly contagious skin infection. RSPCA Inspector Ben Cottle-Shaw, who first collect the injured mutt from the officers, said he was stunned by the poor state of his health and wellbeing.
He said: “I was really shocked when I first saw him. He was the thinnest dog that I had ever seen that was still alive and on top of this he had an awful untreated skin condition which meant he was constantly scratching and had left him almost completely bald. I could tell by his demeanour and look in his eyes Lucas had given up on life as he was so broken and withdrawn. It was heartbreaking to see.
“I rushed him for veterinary treatment and was worried he might not even make the short journey for emergency treatment. But once there he was such a friendly little boy despite being obviously starving and suffering from a horrific case of sarcoptic mange.”
When Lucas was found in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on April 20 he had a bandage around the end of his tail, which revealed an open wound when it was unfastened. But sadly, this had become so infected that the end of his tail dropped off as the dressing was fully removed.
Vets treating Lucas also suspected that he may have come from a home with another dog due to scratch marks found down his front legs. This caused concern as the type of sarcoptic mange Lucas had is highly infectious and also transferable to humans.
Ben fears other pets or even people in the household where Lucas previously lived could also be infected with the skin disease. A microchip revealed he was called Lucas, but his ownership details had not been kept up to date. After receiving emergency veterinary treatment Lucas was transferred to RSPCA's Felledge Centre in County Durham where, against the odds, he is making a good recovery.
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Luka Atkinson, the animal centre’s deputy manager, said: “He is such a sweetheart and is already beginning to find some energy to run around the exercise field. His fur is beginning to grow back and he is on a special diet to help regain weight slowly.
"The colour of his skin is now paler as his inflammation has settled more. There is still quite a way to go and Lucas will not be ready for rehoming for a while.”
Ben is now appealing to anyone who knows who is responsible for neglecting Lucas to get in touch with the RSPCA.
He added: “I am sure someone will recognise who owned this poor boy as the state of his neglect makes him very distinctive. The fact that he had a bandage on his tail and was wearing a brown leather lead may also provide clues.
“I am very keen to find who left Lucas in such a horrendous state of suffering and then simply dumped him like rubbish close to death. I am confident someone will recognise him and urge anyone who can help to get in touch.”
