Locals in Norfolk worked together to groom and give medical attention to 15 dogs, mostly Newfoundlands, abandoned by the roadside.
Authorities in this small town in England are trying to trace an unusual occurrence one Monday night in October when 15 dogs with matted fur were abandoned in separate locations. It's believed that the cases are connected. But without any leads, it will be harder to find the culprit behind this animal cruelty.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) first received a call about eight dogs dumped in the Vale of Belvoir area in Norfolk. According to the Eastern Daily Press, the animals were wandering by the roadside when a resident spotted them.
Jessica Craske, 20, thought that the animals were sheep and someone has lost the herd. But upon closer look, she realized that they were Newfoundlands, Lhasa Apsos and cockapoodles.
Seven More Abandoned Matted Dogs
The woman said that aside from their matted fur, the dogs smelled so bad and looked thin and frail. The animals looked clearly depressed and in pain but they were not aggressive.
So, together with her neighbors, Craske rounded up the dogs to take them to a nearby veterinarian to keep them safe. She also reported the incident to the police, which then notified the RSPCA.
But not long after, the RSPCA also received another call about seven Newfoundlands abandoned in another Norfolk area. Their condition was also similar to the first batch of dogs with their matted fur and failing health.
No Coincidence
In a statement, the RSPCA said that it made sense to conclude that these abandonments were not a coincidence. The dogs were dumped and found on the same night in places close to each other. They also showed the same signs of similar health and behavioral conditions.
Because of their breed, it's likely that these animals were mainly used for breeding but were dumped when they were no longer of use to the breeders. The RSPCA and the vets took care of grooming the dogs. They were also assessed and checked for any medical issues. Other groomers also volunteered to help shave their matted fur.
It's unclear how long the dogs endured their sorry condition because most of them had thick matted hair, which made it harder to shave off. One dog's shaved hair was about 16 pounds.
Re-Homing the Dogs
After the group's effort to groom the dogs, the RSPCA announced that it will soon find new homes for these pets if no one comes forward to claim them. RSPCA Inspector Kate Burris told the press that the dogs have a friendly temperament but they are still scared of what's happening around them.
But the animals look a lot better now that they are rid of the matted hair. The RSCPA will also be nursing them back to health.
The agency also asked the public to alert them of any leads if they have any knowledge about these dogs. Craske, meanwhile, also alerted her social circle on Facebook because they too might find more abandoned dogs in a similar state.
New Breeding Licensing Requirements
The RSPCA told BBC that it's possible more dogs will be abandoned like this following recent changes to the licensing requirements for breeders. England put into effect the new laws as of October 2018, as per The Kennel Club U.K.
Breeders have to comply with the new star rating system to ascertain that their facilities are up to the standards and that they deserve to be given a license.
The license must also be procured if the breeder will be selling at least one litter of dogs within a 12-month period.
