The RSPCA is appealing for information after a dog was found by the roadside near Peterborough, severely matted with his foot rotted off.
The dog was found down a track at the bottom of a dead end road, near to White Post Road in Eye by some kind-hearted teenagers, who spotted him and called the RSPCA for help.
RSPCA Inspector Carrie O’Riordan collected the poor dog and took him straight to the emergency out of hours at Cromwell Veterinary Group in Huntingdon.
The dog, now named Benji, is believed to be a poodle cross type and was so matted that he could hardly move and it was very difficult for his condition to be fully assessed.
Benji was severely dehydrated so vet staff kept him comfortable overnight and gave him fluids on a drip. Once he had painkillers and was sedated, four people began the difficult two-hour task of carefully cutting and shaving off 1.2kg of matted fur.
Vets found that his right food had completely rotted away, and skin had grown over the stump, and it is likely the foot could have been missing for months, if not longer.
Benji has now been transferred to RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre, where he will continue with his treatment and monitoring, it is not known at this stage if his leg will have to be amputated at a later date.
Inspector O’Riordan, said: “I was truly horrified when I saw Benji, he didn’t even resemble a dog. Apart from the matting he smelt extremely bad and his fur was coated in faeces, urine and fleas. In all my years as an inspector, I have never seen a matted dog as bad as this.
“The person who let him get to a condition like this is truly the lowest of the low, there is just no excuse for it. I would like to thank the people who found poor Benji, they stayed with him until I arrived and they wrapped him in their shirts to keep him warm and comfortable. They even played music to keep him calm.”
Julie Eastham, Practice Manager at Cromwell Veterinary Group, said: “The vet involved with Benji care said that this was the worst case of neglect that she has ever seen. It is heartbreaking for all our staff to see such a sad case, poor Benji had been suffering for some time.”
The RSPCA are now urging anyone who recognise Benji or may know who owns him to contact the RSPCA Inspector line on 0300 123 8018.
