A dog was found hours from death in what the RSPCA inspector said was one of the worst jobs of her career.
Floss was shut inside a filthy room with no food or water in a faeces-filled and rubbish strewn home near Northallerton.
The body of another dog was also found in the house.
Floss’s ribs and spine were visibly protruding and she was covered in fleas – which had caused weakness through blood loss.
But despite this she was still wagging her tail as rescuers went into the property to save her.
RSPCA inspectors went to the house after someone called the charity’s cruelty line.
They were shocked to see the starving pet scavenging through rubbish strewn across the house in a desperate attempt to find food.
The dead animal, a mastiff called Alice, was wearing a fabric collar around her neck and attached to that was a chain. But due to the body decomposition it is not clear if this had been attached to something in the room.
Two empty metal bowls lay beside her tipped upside down and she was found surrounded by rubbish.
RSPCA Inspector Emma Stainthorpe said: “It was one of the worst jobs of my 13 year career. Floss was in an awful state and was very obviously underweight and I could see lots of live fleas running and jumping all over her – and her ribs, spine and pelvic bones protruding out of her inflamed skin.
“She and Alice had been living in horrendous conditions. There was faeces and junk all over the house with no food or water for the pets and it was so upsetting to see – especially as we believe Floss had been living in the same house as the decomposing remains of her friend.”
The vet found Floss, a spaniel, weighed just 8kg when her ideal body weight is at least 12kg.
Blood test results found she was severely anemic which was probably due to a combination of malnutrition and the severe flea infestations.
Two days later, Shannon Hamilton, 28, a vet at the practice, told how she first met the loveable dog when she arrived at work following a holiday and instantly her heart melted.
“She was treated at the vets for a couple of weeks as we helped rehabilitate her and from me having a slight interest in her I just fell in love with her.
“I had only just moved into a new home with my partner in Newton Aycliffe when I saw her and we began to bond. My partner came to see her at work as I was keen to foster her and he too was taken with her.
“Once she was in a stable condition I took her home and fostered her from the RSPCA as the subsequent court case against her owner was ongoing.
“Floss is doing really well. She loves people and other dogs and is not nervous at all considering what she has been through.
“She is about seven years old now and has made a huge difference to our lives. She is our little girl and we love her to bits and can’t imagine the house without her.”
A North Yorkshire man pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences related to Floss and Alice and was banned from keeping dogs for ten years.
The RSPCA is highlighting Floss’s case as new figures reveal that animal neglect reports are at a five year high with reports rising by 28% last year* with 17 reports of neglect coming in every hour the cruelty line is open.
And with charity rescuers braced for a further surge in reports over the Winter months, the RSPCA has launched an urgent appeal – The Big Give Back to Animals – in the hope of raising vital funds for its frontline officers.
Shannon said: “I am keen to support the RSPCA’s Big Give Back to Animals to help other pets like Floss escape from such awful situations and give them a happy life.
“I would also urge people to look at adopting pets from rescue charities like the RSPCA as you can help transform their lives and they will also positively transform yours.”
