St Leonards dog '˜looked like a rhino'

A dog was found with such a severe skin infection she had lost two-thirds of the fur on her body and was described as '˜looking like a rhino'.
Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe BallardLucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard
Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard

The RSPCA was called to an address in St Leonards in February, 2015, and found Lucy, then called Sulin, in an extremely poor condition.

The female Sharpei/Staffordshire bull terrier cross, thought to be around eight years old, had been home-medicated and had not seen a vet for a year.

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A spokeswoman said she was also living in ‘poor condition’s and in a ‘severely depressed, lethargic’ state.

Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe BallardLucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard
Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard

RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard said: “I found poor Lucy curled in bin bags with only about a third of the fur she should have had on her body.

“She looked like a rhino – her skin was so bare.

“She had long nails curling into the pads of her feet, eyes swollen and full of puss and very inflamed ears.

“She was clearly very distressed and was constantly shaking her head and body in agitation – which was so upsetting to see.

Lucy is now almost unrecognisableLucy is now almost unrecognisable
Lucy is now almost unrecognisable
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“The owners had historically taken her to the vet, but then had stopped at least a year before.

“They instead treated her condition themselves, using Google and medication they bought online.

“They claimed that the non-prescription medicine they had been buying online was originally recommended by a vet, although any reasonable owner would have realised from the severity of her condition that it was not effective and sought further vet advice long before.

“She had a long road to recovery and lots of ongoing treatment as her skin condition was so severe, but sometimes there are happy endings and Lucy is one of the lucky ones.

Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspectorsLucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspectors
Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspectors
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“She has now been rehomed to a lovely family and is doing incredibly well.

“I am so pleased as she is such a darling dog – so friendly.”

The case was dealt with via advice as the owners had misinformation that they could treat Lucy themselves through online means.

“We have no reason to believe that they will not follow this advice in future, so no further action was deemed necessary,” said a spokeswoman.

Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe BallardLucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard
Lucy when she was first found by RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard
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New owner Adam Holmes said: “Lucy has come such a long way since she was found with only a third of her fur on her body.

“It has now grown back and she has made a wonderful recovery – you just wouldn’t recognise her as the same dog.

“She is such a happy, loving little thing and a joy to have as part of our family.

“We just couldn’t imagine not having her with us now.”

The RSPCA shared Lucy’s story as it released its animal cruelty statistics today (Wednesday, March 23).

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The figures show man’s best friend is the most persecuted pet in the south east.

Lucy is now almost unrecognisableLucy is now almost unrecognisable
Lucy is now almost unrecognisable

Almost 57 per cent of complaints investigated by the RSPCA in 2015 related to dogs.

This compares to nearly 24 per cent which related to cats – the second most abused pet .

There were 81,146 investigations into cruelty towards the pet commonly thought of as our most loyal companion – more than twice the number of investigations into cats, of which there were 33,844.

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Greater London was named cruellest area in the country after RSPCA figures revealed that 6,137 dogs were involved in complaints which were investigated by the charity.

Kent followed just behind with 2,742 dogs and Essex with 2,442.

East Sussex had 1,959 complaints investigated.

Today also saw the RSPCA release details of some of its most harrowing cases of the year.

They included:

A Staffordshire bull terrier collapsed with scalds all over her body thought to be caused by boiling water in London.

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A Chihuahua that was stolen, fed drugs and tortured in Kent.

A dog that was beaten over the head with a metal pole before having her head crammed into a plastic bag in an attempt to strangle her in London.

Wolfhounds that were left to suffer with fractured legs and open wounds unseen by a vet in Norfolk.

Thirty-four dogs found living in metal crates stacked three high in a warehouse in Cambridgeshire.

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And a blind spaniel that was tied to a pallet of bricks and left for dead in Kent.

RSPCA chief superintendent for London and the south east Insp Paul Stilgoe said: “This year has seen some of the most distressing cases our inspectors have ever come across – and in so many cases the victims were dogs.

“The level of cruelty, neglect and abuse we see across the region on a daily basis is heartbreaking but thanks to the help of members of the public we have been able to make it a bit safer for these animals.”

This year’s cruelty statistics show that in 2015 nationally there were:

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1,428 dogs were involved in animal welfare incidents which ended in prosecutions,● 761 were cats, 463 exotics and 330 equines;

Overall, 143,004 complaints of animal cruelty in 2015 investigated, slightly down on 159,831 in 2014;

796 people convicted of animal welfare offences, compared to 1,029 in 2014;

On the rise are the number of owners who were offered and accepted animal welfare advice – 81,475 in 2015. In 2000 this figure was around 4,000, in 2002 around 50,000, and in 2007 around 78,000.

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