A dog who was left in ‘horrendous pain’ from an untreated ear mass the size of a tennis ball, has been given a new lease of life thanks to an RSPCA rehoming centre and the generosity of animal lovers who raised over £1,000 to fund her life-saving operation.
Four-year-old Maisie came into the care of the RSPCA’s Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire branch after her owner was unable to afford to get her treated.
She had a heavily infected mass which was visibly protruding from her left ear and had gone down her ear canal and through the drum, leaving vets with no other option but to perform a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA) to remove the growth. Most likely deaf as a result, Maisie would have been in terrible pain for many weeks, if not longer.
Following an appeal on social media, local animal lovers rallied round to raise over £1,000 to fund the life-saving operation. Sadly, Maisie’s right ear then also became inflamed and the same surgery was performed and paid for by the self-funded RSPCA branch. While the exact nature of the mass in her right ear was not known, it’s hoped it was completely removed during the surgery.
Despite the issues she’s had with her health, and the invasive treatments she’s endured, Maisie, who’s been cared for at the branch’s Holdings Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Kempsey since June, is described as a happy, super intelligent and incredibly sweet-natured dog who would love nothing more than to be in her very own home for Christmas.
Claire Wood from The Holdings, said: “When an animal comes to us in desperate need of treatment we’ll do absolutely everything we can to make sure it happens. We were told that Maisie would have been in horrendous pain and has probably been left with almost no hearing as a result.
“Our wonderful supporters and dedicated vets quite literally saved her life and and we cannot thank them enough. Because her hearing has been left significantly compromised you do need to shout to make yourself heard, but that said, she’s an incredibly intelligent and intuitive dog and responds well to hand signals and is excellent at reading body language.
“Her sensitive nature means that she’s a little shy with people she doesn’t know, but once she bonds with you, she really bonds. Then she becomes a typical bouncy Staffie who loves zooming around and who is incredibly agile, loving to run and jump.
“She loves her cuddly toys and simply adores nosing through her collection to select her favourites, which can change according to her mood. Her hotdog and burger always remain in favour though!”
Maisie is slightly more wary of men, so there would need to be a female at home who would – initially at least – be her primary carer. The centre says she’s getting much more trusting of people in general and has bonded well with a male member of staff, so patience and letting her get to know you in her own time will be key. An adult-only home without other pets will be best for Maisie as she can be worried by other dogs and would most likely chase cats.
As is the case with any animal the centre rehomes, her full medical history and any ongoing vet care relating to underlying or post operative issues, will be fully discussed with any potential adopters.
We know that the rising cost of living is a worry for many people, and we’d urge anyone who is struggling to look after their pet to seek help. The RSPCA is providing dedicated support for worried pet owners, with a recently-opened telephone helpline, and there’s also a hub on our website which has lots of practical tips and advice, including details of pet food bank schemes.
You can help The Holdings Rescue and Rehoming Centre rescue more animals like Maisie by donating to our Christmas Rescue online.
