The RSPCA’s York branch has set up a fundraising appeal for a large group of dogs who were rescued from squalid conditions at a house in North Yorkshire after their owner had sadly passed away.
Fourteen dogs were discovered locked in kennels at the property in Whitby last month after the charity had been alerted to the situation by police.
Twelve of them are being looked after at the branch’s animal centre in Landing Lane in York and have made remarkable transformations after many weeks of rehabilitation.
The centre is now appealing to supporters and animal lovers to help fund the dogs’ significant veterinary treatment and ongoing care.
Four of the dogs – which include a cocker spaniel mum and son, shelties, collies, a lurcher and a labrador cross – had to be hospitalised overnight and needed intravenous fluids for 24 hours.
A number were also severely matted in faeces and urine and had to be clipped.
Seventeen birds – a mix of finches, parrots and budgerigars – were also found at the house where conditions were described by rescuers as “extremely challenging.”
They are now being looked after at a private boarding facility on behalf of the RSPCA where they are doing well.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Mollie Masters, one of four officers from the charity who spent hours on the scene, said: “The dogs were found in the house and in various kennels and crates outside.
“The conditions on site were squalid and extremely challenging and many of the dogs were understandably nervous, so we had to work slowly and patiently with them.
“It was a very sad set of circumstances but we’re really pleased we’ve been able to help these animals and the team at York are doing a fantastic job getting the dogs back to good health so they can go on to find loving new homes.
“This was a large and upsetting incident for us to deal with and I’d like to thank the police and the vet who assisted us at the location to ensure we were able to get the animals off site and transported to get the care they needed as quickly as possible.”
Animal Welfare Supervisor, Marie Sandall, from the RSPCA’s York Branch, which is an entirely self-funding charity, said: “They’re a group of very special dogs who have stolen our hearts already.
“They are all making great progress and putting on weight nicely. Initially they were placed on five tiny meals a day and to see them gobble their food in seconds broke our hearts. There are a couple of older ones who, despite everything, are also doing well, and we’re hopeful we’ll be able to put them up for adoption very soon.
“They were all very thin, matted and covered in faeces and urine and had to have a lot of veterinary treatment, including blood tests and dental work. Some of them will also need to be neutered prior to being rehomed.
“As a self-funding charity, these costs are beginning to mount up for us which is why we’re appealing to our supporters, who are always so wonderful in these situations, to donate to our fundraising appeal to help us cover the significant veterinary costs and the dogs’ ongoing care.
“They are all absolutely adorable and we can honestly not believe how loving they are considering what they have been through. One thing is certain, they can now look forward to a brighter future and we can’t wait to see them in their new homes.”
One of the 14 dogs was cared for by a veterinary nurse but has since sadly passed away. The remaining member of the group is being cared for by another RSPCA branch.
