Neglected North Yorkshire dog now thriving thanks to new owners
A neglected dog who was shut inside a filthy room in North Yorkshire with no food or water is now living her best life with the vet who helped nurse her back to health.
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A neglected dog who was shut inside a filthy room with no food or water is now living her best life with the vet who helped nurse her back to health.
The springer spaniel called Floss was rescued by the RSPCA from a filthy, faeces-filled and rubbish strewn home, near Northallerton, in North Yorkshire. Tragically the body of another dog who lived in the house was found at the scene.
Floss’s ribs and spine were visibly protruding and she was covered in fleas - which had caused weakness through blood loss - but despite this she was still wagging her tail as rescuers went into the property to save her.
RSPCA Inspector Emma Stainthorpe and Chief Inspector Mark Gent were called to the address following a report to the charity’s cruelty line and they were shocked to see the starving pet scavenging through rubbish strewn across the house in a desperate attempt to find food.
As the rescuers searched the house for any other pets they opened a bathroom door and Floss ran straight in and found a bowl of water which she drank ravenously.
They then went to investigate the stench coming from an adjoining bedroom where sadly they found the badly decomposed body of a Mastiff dog who had been Floss’s companion.
The dead pet, whose name was Alice, was wearing a fabric collar around her neck and attached to that was a chain but due to the body decomposition it is not clear if this had been attached to something in the room. Two empty metal bowls lay beside her tipped upside down and she was found surrounded by rubbish, faeces and dead flies.
Floss’s rescuers believe she would have suffered a similar fate had they not intervened and would not have survived much longer without food and water.
The animal rescue charity is highlighting the story of Floss and how her life was changed around so positively as new figures reveal that animal neglect reports are at a five year high with reports rising by 28% last year* with 17 reports of neglect coming in every hour the cruelty line is open.
Emma said that she would never forget the smell and filth around the house, during the rescue in October 2023, which was so bad they had to wear disposable overalls, gloves and masks. She also said she remembered how Floss greeted the rescuers when they were invited into the property by her then owner - with her tail wagging happily even in her suffering state.
Emma said: “It was one of the worst jobs of my 13 year career. Floss was in an awful state and was very obviously underweight and I could see lots of live fleas running and jumping all over her - and her ribs, spine and pelvic bones protruding out of her inflamed skin.
“There was also a lot of blood on her bedding area which was from where the fleas had been attacking her and this had caused her vitamin deficiencies in her blood.
“She and Alice had been living in horrendous conditions. There was faeces and junk all over the house with no food or water for the pets and it was so upsetting to see - especially as we believe Floss had been living in the same house as the decomposing remains of her friend.
“She happily greeted us when we entered the home - wanting a fuss which pulled on the heartstrings. She was quite content to come with us -after the owner agreed we could take her for urgent vet treatment and she was so friendly and loving. It was so sad to see how Alice had been left to die and was really upsetting.
“Had it not been for the intervention of the RSPCA, I have no doubt Floss would have suffered a similar fate. It is thanks to a concerned member of the public calling the cruelty line that we were able to at least save Floss.
“But even travelling to the vets I did think there was a big chance she would not pull through as she was so thin and infested with so many fleas that I prepared myself for the worst.”
The vet found Floss was suffering and was given a body condition score of one out of nine (her ideal weight would be 4-5). She weighed just 8kg when her ideal body weight is at least 12kg - she was also dehydrated.
Blood test results found she was severely anemic which was probably due to a combination of malnutrition and the severe flea infestations. Due to her suffering she was seized by the police at the vets in Darlington and placed into RSPCA care.
Floss was given dehydration fluids and put on a re-feeding plan and she soon made good progress. At first it was thought she was a collie dog but as she began to progress with her weight and her fur grew back healthy it was clear she was a spaniel.
Two days later, Shannon Hamilton (28), a vet at the practice, told how she first met the loveable dog when she arrived at work following a holiday and instantly her heart-melted.
She said: “The initial thing that struck me about Floss was when I first saw her in her cage was her lovely face and big puppy dog eyes looking scared - I just felt an instant connection.
“She was treated at the vets for a couple of weeks as we helped rehabilitate her and from me having a slight interest in her I just fell in love with her.
“I had only just moved into a new home with my partner in Newton Aycliffe when I saw her and we began to bond. My partner came to see her at work as I was keen to foster her and he too was taken with her.
“Once she was in a stable condition I took her home and fostered her from the RSPCA as the subsequent court case against her owner was ongoing and I was able to adopt her officially in October last year (2024).
“Floss is doing really well - she is very well socialised with people and dogs - she goes to doggy day care two days a week while I work and family members also have her on other days when I am working at the vets.
“She loves people and other dogs and is not nervous at all considering what she has been through. She is about seven years-old now and has made a huge difference to our lives. She is our little girl and we love her to bits and can’t imagine the house without her in it.
“We were worried she may have some problems because of her past but she settled really well and has always been happy to have attention and loves her food, just very relaxed. She did get a bit of separation anxiety though and doesn’t like the dark so we tried sleeping in the spare room with a night light on but now she has her own bed in our room.
“She is a chaos tornado when she wants to be and there is never a dull moment and she is such a sweet-natured girl we can’t imagine life without her and me and my partner have bonded more as we both can’t get enough of her - she has brought so much joy to our lives as we have for her.
“I am keen to support the RSPCA’s The Big Give Back to Animals to help other pets like Floss escape from such awful situations and give them a happy life. I would also urge people to look at adopting pets from rescue charities like the RSPCA as you can help transform their lives and they will also positively transform yours.”
Emma added: “I am just glad to see that Floss now has the loving new home she deserves. She is such a lovely and friendly girl and it makes my job so worthwhile seeing such a happy ending in her case.”
A North Yorkshire man pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences related to Floss and Alice and was banned from keeping dogs for ten years.