A former guard dog left in conditions of appalling neglect has started a new life with the vet assistant who nursed her back to wellness.
German Shepherd cross Storm was left without supervision for a week in freezing temperatures in a bleak yard in Staffordshire along with two other dogs and some ferrets.
The animals were discovered by RSPCA inspectors Pam Bird and Dawn Burrell confined to the compound without food and bedding materials in their kennels, while water bowls had frozen during a cold snap in December last year.
The emaciated body of a lurcher dog was frozen to the ground at the location, while another lurcher, who was also severely underweight, passed away later as a result of the appalling conditions the animals were forced to endure.
Storm was fortunate to survive the ordeal and the inspectors believe it was because she was left loose in the yard that she may have scavenged for food waste and caught rats to eat.
But she was still extremely hungry and thirsty when she arrived at Hope Veterinary Surgery in Stoke-on-Trent where she first met practice nurse Bethany Poole. She spent time in private boarding kennels while being cared for by RSPCA Staffordshire North Branch and when she returned to the vets for her vaccinations, Bethany moved quickly to adopt her.
“I was so taken by Storm’s nature when I first met her in December of last year. The RSPCA had called to say they were collecting a guard dog and when she walked into the room she was terrified and just stayed curled up on the floor,” recalled Bethany.
“With the help of a lot of treats she soon came around for a fuss. She was so well behaved, apart from trying to steal the treat bag, and she stayed a night at the practice before she went off to kennels.
“But I kept thinking about her and then three months later when she came back to the practice to be spayed I recognised her instantly. I knew then I wanted her to come home with me.
“Now she has a proper dog’s life with a big brother and sister who have helped build her confidence and taught her what toys are. She has also made friends with my four cats.
“She is just so good natured and content. She has settled in perfectly and has really put behind what was a really terrible experience and she recently enjoyed a walking holiday with me.”
The conditions of neglect the animals were subjected to led to a successful prosecution case by the RSPCA and inspector Bird recalled: “It was truly a dreadful thing to see when we arrived at the yard during a very cold period last year when the outside temperature was minus 4C. We were met by Storm who was barking behind a large metal gate, behind which there were kennels and a static caravan.
“There was a cream coloured dog lying motionless on the floor by a kennel. We called for police assistance and eventually put Storm in the back of our van. But another lurcher dog had collapsed and we wrapped her in a towel and took her to a nearby vets, where she was put on heat pads and a drip. Sadly, she passed away several days later.
“Storm was very nervous and distressed when she first came into the care of the RSPCA. But we think that because she was loose in the yard, unlike the other dogs, she was able to find food and that kept her alive, although we don’t know for sure.
“It is so nice to hear how well she is doing now with her new owner and after dealing with this case it really cheered us up to hear of her progress.”
A dead ferret was also found at the yard, but another rodent, who had lost the use of her back legs, has made a recovery at a ferret rescue in Chester.
This month the RSPCA launched a month-long Adoptober rehoming campaign to help find new homes for dogs like Storm. The animal charity is facing its biggest rehoming crisis in recent memory. The animal charity’s rescue centres and branches are full to bursting with unwanted animals as more animals come into care than are being adopted.
The number of animals being adopted has been falling in recent years. In 2022, the RSPCA found homes for 27,535 animals – but that’s 30% less than three years ago (in 2019) – when 39,178 animals were rehomed.
