A dog found in a dangerously emaciated condition in Stockton following the death of his elderly owner has been helped back to health by veterinary nurse Nicole Burn - who cared for him and then decided to actually adopt him.
11-year-old rough-haired collie Seb was among a number of pets rescued from the Stockton home in February this year - including two other dogs - after a member of the public discovered the state they were in. They called the RSPCA and animal rescue officer Ruth Thomas-Coxon collected them, Express Online reports.
Seb was was in a neglected state, with horribly matted fur - that had to be shaved off. This then revealed how thin he was. He had bones and ribs protruding through his skin.
But Nicole, who works at Stanhope Park Vets in Darlington has been Seb's guardian angel. She said: "When I first saw Seb, he looked in a terrible state and we believed he was hours away from death. When we lifted him onto the examination table at the vet's, there was just nothing on him.
"He then had to have his matted fur shaved off under an anaesthetic and we were all shocked to see how his spine and bones protruded through his skin-he was so emaciated."
The poor dog weighed just 12.2kg when he went in for emergency treatment, but within two months had gained weight and was a healthier 19.9kg. When Seb was ready to be rehomed, Nicole jumped at the chance.
She said: "I have grown up with rough-haired collies, so I know the breed well. He is such a gentle and happy boy. I bonded with him straight away, and now he is never too far away from me. He has been through some tough times, but he is so happy and content, and he comes to work with me every day—he is a perfect fit in my life."
Ruth added: "When I first saw Seb he was gravely ill and I was worried whether he would have the strength to pull through-but he did and he looks so happy. I am delighted he is loving life with Nicole, who adores him.
"This is why the RSPCA is running its Cancel out Cruelty fund-raising campaign as we need the public to support us so we can carry out more rescues like this during the summer period, which is our busiest time-we want to save more animals in need like Seb."
The charity receives around 90,000 calls to its cruelty line every month and investigates 6,000 reports of deliberate animal cruelty, but in the summer, calls rise to 134,000 a month and reports of cruelty soar to 7,600 each month. That's a heartbreaking 245 every day.
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, the charity is also concerned that given the increases in pet ownership over recent years, the added strain on people’s finances, could see more animals will be coming into RSPCA care during the next few months. To donate, click here.
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