Eight dogs rescued from appalling conditions

A group of eight dogs have made a stunning recovery after being recovered from horrific conditions.

The dogs, all young adults and a mix of different breeds, were rescued from a site near to Peterlee in the North East by the RSPCA at the start of December. The animals were in a very poor condition, including Roo, a Kangal Shepherd, who had untreated sarcoptic mange which made it so painful to walk he had to carried to an RSPCA van as he had "almost completely shut down.

A male Lurcher called Charlie was also rescued after being found emaciated and covered in pressure sores.

Most of the dogs were underweight and they were living in pens and kennels which were heavily contaminated in faeces and surrounded by rubbish, hazardous items, and boxes of raw, rotting chicken.

A vet assessed they were suffering or likely to suffer, and so they were seized by a vet and handed into the care of the RSPCA. Three chickens were also found in a wired topped plastic box, standing on a deceased bird.

They were underweight and dehydrated and had to be hospitalised.

Three of the dogs were microchipped but the details were out of date. The site was not owned by the council, and no one has come forward with information about who the site belonged to.

RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Catherine Maddison, who was one of four officers to rescue the animals, said: "It was difficult to walk around safely because of the large amount of broken hazardous items and rubbish generally. The environment was wholly unsuitable for animals.

We suspect Roo was being used as a guard dog as he was the only one who was loose on the site. He was in a terrible state, almost completely shut down and very reluctant to move because of red raw skin on his feet. In the end it took four of us to carry him to my van so we could get him seen by a vet.

"The other dogs were being housed in dirty kennels and pens, some of which had faeces that were so old they'd turned white.

"Most of them were underweight and suffering from skin conditions. It really was a desperately sad situation for these animals and we're so grateful for the support of the police, the vets, our animal centres and partner organisations.

"The images of them now are testament to all the hard work that has gone into getting them back to good health."

Roo had fur loss and was suffering from an eye condition called entropion, which is painful and required surgery. He is being cared for at the RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre near Chester-le-Street and will be rehomed in the coming weeks.

The other dogs have been rehabilitated at a facility in North Yorkshire and RSPCA centres in Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and West Yorkshire.

Charlie is doing well in the Lancashire East Branch after being placed on a re-feeding programme to give him a high quality diet and small meals frequently. A brown and white Springer Spaniel called Sally, who was underweight and suffering from sarcoptic mange is under the care of the Radcliffe Animal Centre in Nottinghamshire and is also doing well in foster care.

Minnie, a female German Shepherd cross, loves "fuss and attention" and has been recovering at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Branch and is looking for a new home. Fig, a female Jack Russell, went to the Leeds, Wakefield and District Branch, and has been adopted by a foster carer.

Daisy, a female Cockerpoo, and two Lurcher-type dogs called Toby and Tilly, one of which had old leg wounds, were taken to a private facility. Daisy has since been rehomed.

The chickens also recovered and are being cared for by the RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre near Middlesbrough.

If you have any information about where they were found, you can contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference number 01692434.