Shocking photos show Peanut, a lurcher that was found alone down a country lane in Bedfordshire on New Year’s Day, in such a bad way that every bone on her body is visible
The RSPCA is caring for the thinnest dog one of its officers has ever seen as it deals with a record number of abandoned animals.
Shocking photos show Peanut, a lurcher, in such a bad way that every bone on her body is visible. The three-year-old pooch was found alone down a country lane in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, on January 1.
She was taken to an emergency vet by concerned members of the public before RSPCA in Cambridgeshire took over her care. The RSPCA are now making investigations as the charity reveals there were more abandoned incidents this festive season than any year since 2018.
Peanut had multiple pressure sores on her legs – a sign that she laid on hard surfaces for long periods of time. She remains extremely poorly and had been almost lifeless when she first arrived. However she is showing small signs of improvement and has started to stand up by herself and even “tentatively” ran to get breakfast.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer David Allen 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.
“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.”
The charity said 84 pets were left at its centres across the country on December 27 – the most abandonment incidents logged in a day. It feared a surge in spontaneous pet ownership during Covid-19 and financial hardships would carry the increasing number of abandonments into 2025.
Tiffany Saunders, of the RSPCA Block Fen Centre, said: “It was heartbreaking to see how emaciated Peanut was. But thankfully, we are seeing small signs of improvement every day.
“She’s certainly feeling much better though and it is really lovely to see her tail wag. She is under the care of a vet and the plan is to continue to build her weight back up.”
