Maisie was found emaciated unable to stand with a large wound around her neck


Maisie under anesthetic

The RSPCA is caring for a cocker spaniel who was found emaciated and unable to stand with a large wound around her neck.

The dog warden from the local authority found five-year-old Maisie collapsed at the side of the road in Hounslow and contacted the RSPCA. The poor dog was extremely thin, dehydrated and her heart rate was worryingly low when she was brought into the RSPCA’s Putney Animal Hospital in London three weeks ago.

Maisie had clearly been very neglected and it’s believed she was abandoned before being found in West London. She was not microchipped and no owner has been traced.

Joanne Elmes, Hospital Administrator at Putney, said: “Maisie is one brave girl. She was found collapsed at the side of the road in Hounslow a few weeks ago. As well as being so emaciated she couldn’t stand, she was also incredibly dehydrated and had a large wound across her neck but we’ve no idea how she got this. She was in such a bad way, we feared she wouldn’t live for very long. She was put on fluids and antibiotics and after a lot of intensive treatment at the hospital, Maisie started to improve and managed to begin eating small amounts of food. From that moment on, she has been determined to stick around. She’s our little survivor.”


Maisie and Hugo

Maisie is now being fostered by Volunteering Coordinator Kirsty Wilkinson who has welcomed Maisie into the family whilst she recovers during the Coronavirus lockdown. Kirsty said: “She is a gorgeous, lovely dog but she has clearly been through a terrible time as she can be very nervous and wouldn’t let me out of her sight at first. She’s started to build her weight back up and her confidence. She loves snuggling on the sofa and has already got used to living with my own dogs, Hugo, a one-eyed French bulldog, who was also abandoned and treated at Putney, and Scampi, who we rehomed from Guide Dogs for the Blind due to medical reasons. Maisie is looking more relaxed and her confidence improves day by day. It’s brilliant to see her come out of her shell and get back to full health after all she has been through.”

The RSPCA has paused rehoming during the Coronavirus pandemic but once the charity starts rehoming again, Maisie will be available to find her forever home.

To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals like these and keep their animal hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment and round the clock care through these unprecedented times, please donate whatever you can spare at www.rspca.org.uk/covid

April 9, 2020