On Friday, the Animal Welfare Society of SA (AWS) received a call to collect a family of unwanted dogs from a residence in Rocklands Mitchells Plain.
Upon arrival at the property, the team, navigating their way through years of decomposing faeces in the backyard, found a frightened little family of eight severely neglected dogs comprised of seven Maltese poodles and a crossbreed.
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The dogs were all suffering from acute skin infections, fleas, and severely matted coats that weighed more than their own body weight painfully weighing them down and cruelly inhibiting their movement.
Some of the dogs were blind and had missing teeth and all of the poodles had painful ingrown toenails. The stench of urine, faeces and rotting flesh was indicative of years of neglect.
The dogs had no shelter from the hot sun, and there was no water bowl in sight either. The team suspects the dogs may have been starved as well.
Following a thorough veterinary examination, it was determined that the dogs’ fur was severely matted, and their skin was so sensitive that they needed to be groomed under anaesthetic.
After shaving kilo-after-kilo of dank, parasite-infested matted fur from their scrawny little bodies, attending to their teeth, and providing them with a warm place to rest and a wholesome meal to aid their recovery, AWS said the dogs are now loving the fuss.
‘To see their skinny tails wag in appreciation and twinkle return to their sad eyes makes all the considerable effort utterly worthwhile.’
If you have any concerns about the welfare of animals please do not hesitate to contact the Animal Welfare Society of SA on 021 692 2626 or email [email protected]
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Picture: Animal Welfare Society of SA / Facebook
