Severely injured dog rescued by walkers has home for Christmas

Anwen and Keith Bellis were on their way home from a bank holiday walk in the Denbigh Moors on August 28 when they saw the little four-year-old terrier crossbreed stumbling towards them as they drove along a country lane near Llansannan, a village in Conwy county.

When they got closer it became obvious that the dog was very badly injured, exhausted and struggling with bleeding wounds on the side of his face and neck.

They wrapped him in a towel belonging to their own dog and contacted the RSPCA, who asked the couple if they could take Fenton to the charity’s Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre in Colwyn Bay.

Rachel Gibbs, deputy centre manager, said: "As I approached the car I could see immediately that Fenton was in an incredibly bad way. He was just lying on his side, almost lifeless in the footwell of the car.

"He had a lot of infected wounds and was covered in thick dirt and unable to lift his head. We knew that he needed to be seen by a vet straight away, so our animal care assistant Callum Bartley took him to our fantastic emergency vet, Vets Now, as there really was no time to lose.”

Fenton was struggling with several long-standing wounds - possibly caused by bites - which were weeping and infected. The skin on his toes had also been ripped from the underlying tissue, which suggested he may have been hit by a car.

He stayed overnight at the veterinary practice before returning to Bryn-y-Maen the following morning. Incredibly weak, Fenton spent his first few days sleeping and needed more than three months of intensive treatment by RSPCA staff to ensure his wounds and skin were fully healed.

Mrs Bellis, who lives near Mold, said: “We actually thought he was a very old dog at first as he was disoriented and wobbly on his feet. His fur was matted, he smelt awful and he just looked utterly exhausted. When he came up to me, he rested his head on my leg because he was so weak; it was absolutely heartbreaking to see a dog in such an appalling condition.

“We visited Fenton at the animal centre and to see him running around after the near collapsed state he was in was wonderful.

"We’re over the moon that he’s found a lovely home after everything he’s been through.”

Philip and Wendy Hammond with Fenton

Fenton was adopted on November 27 by Philip and Wendy Hammond from Northwich in Cheshire, who say he has settled in well since arriving home and is keeping them on their toes.

Mr Hammond said: “He’s an absolute bundle of energy and it’s lovely having another dog in the house again after we lost our 14-year-old Parson Russell Terrier a couple of months ago. We’ve noticed Fenton likes picking things up - my slippers have disappeared a couple of times - so we’re having to put a few things away.

"We’ve got a canal boat, which we’re hoping to take Fenton on next summer, so he’s got lots of nice things to look forward to.

"He’s a cheeky little character and he’ll never again have to go through the awful experiences he endured.”

Fenton in his new home

Ms Gibbs added: “Looking at Fenton now, it’s hard to imagine he was so poorly, and it’s heartbreaking to think he was probably like that for quite some time.

"We are so grateful to our vets, to Anwen and Keith for their care and compassion that day, and to Phillip and Wendy for offering Fenton a forever home. He’s been on quite a journey and we are all absolutely delighted that it’s resulted in a happy ending for this gorgeous little dog.”

Last December, the RSPCA received one call every minute, one report of an abandoned animal every hour, and took 70 rescue animals into RSPCA care every day, despite England and Wales having strict coronavirus restrictions in place.

Fenton when he was found

In Wales there were 180 reports of animals being abandoned last winter - including 53 in December.

With 3,004 abandonment incidents in England and Wales last winter, and 1,018 of those during the month of December alone, the charity fears that rising abandonment rates will see more animals facing a bleak winter.

In recent months, abandonments have risen by around 20 per cent compared to 2020 figures and the charity is worried that soaring pet ownership during the pandemic could mean a surge of abandoned dogs and cats as people return to normal working life.

Dermot Murphy, who heads the RSPCA frontline rescue teams, said: "Our frontline rescue teams are braced for the worst this Christmas. We usually see two types of pet abandonment at Christmas and both are heartbreaking. “Every year we get reports of people leaving their pets while they visit family and friends. This year is a four-day holiday and many people will want to make up for not being able to see family and friends; so some animals will be left for days on their own to fend for themselves. It’s not acceptable to simply leave extra food and water for most pets if you are going away.”

“It’s a sad reality that some pets will be turned out on the streets this Christmas and we are braced for even more of that happening as the bills are rising, there are presents to buy or the commitment needed to own a pet becomes too much.

“Please never abandon a pet. Don’t be too proud to ask for help.”

In December 2020, there were 51,815 calls, with 770 calls received on Christmas day, 1,091 on Boxing Day and 1,691 calls on New Year’s Eve last year: 964 in England and 54 in Wales