Two dogs dumped by the side of the road on the hottest day in UK history are starting a new life. Terrified Dottie and a smaller dog, believed to be her puppy, were discovered on a country lane near Macclesfield on July 19 as temperatures rose above 40C, the Express reports.
The two Chinese crested-type dogs were both badly underweight, with skin conditions and flea infestations, and Dottie also had a fractured leg and severely injured eye. The kind-hearted couple who found the pets rushed them to a nearby vet where they were given urgent attention.
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RSPCA Inspector Caren Goodman-James then took the dogs into the charity’s care at the Macclesfield, South East Cheshire, and Buxton Branch, where Dottie got her new name and the pup was called Frankie. Poor Dottie had to have her front leg amputated as she was suffering from an old fracture that had been left untreated.
She also had a severe case of dry eye, which meant it had disintegrated. But the playful pooch is now happily running around with Frankie in foster care, where they will remain until they are ready to be rehomed.
Carmen Cole, from the RSPCA Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton Branch, said: "They were in a pretty horrific state when they were found and Dottie needed her leg amputated as a matter of urgency. Her eye was so bad it had disintegrated in the socket and this needed washing out.
“Both dogs had terrible coats which needed treatment. They had flea infestations and were also very underweight. But they have been returned to good health in our care and are now having fun in a foster home where they will stay until they are ready to go to a loving home together.
"Dottie may only have three legs now but she isn’t letting that get in the way of anything and enjoys being playful and running round the garden with Frankie."
The branch, which is run as a separate charity to the RSPCA, spent £1,200 treating Dottie and still needs more funds to keep up their ongoing treatment. They are appealing for donations from the public to help them continue treating these pets as well as others in their care—and supporters can help by donating online.
Carmen added that donations of food for rabbits, cats, and kittens would also be gratefully received. Inspector Goodman-James, who rescued the dogs said: "I am so pleased to see they are doing so well - I was worried Dottie in particular might not make it as she was so neglected. The person who dumped these poor dogs on one of the hottest days of the year was particularly callous.
"They were in the middle of nowhere and could have suffered a lingering death if they had not been found. The couple who picked them up are not sure of the exact location as they were not from the area but said the lane was surrounded by fields and had no houses nearby.
"We know it was 10 minutes north from the vets in Macclesfield where they took the pets for treatment. Sadly we are dealing with more and more cases like this as the cost of living crisis begins to take hold.
"That’s why we have launched our Cancel Out Cruelty summer campaign to raise funds to help our rescue teams out on the frontline continue to save more animals like Dottie and Frankie."
The RSPCA is concerned about the number of abandoned animals and fears the cost of living crisis could be leading owners to make difficult decisions. The charity’s report, the Animal Kindness Index, found 68 per cent were concerned that the cost of caring for pets was increasing, while 19 per cent were worried about how they would afford to feed their pets.
To donate to the RSPCA click here.
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