Neglected dog dumped at road side

6:30am Friday 31st August 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Melanie Adams, Health Reporter

Misty the St Bernard Misty the St Bernard

AN elderly dog was callously dumped on the side of a road and left to be eaten alive by maggots.

Misty the St Bernard was in such a terrible state that when she was found by a member of the public in Fletchwood Lane, Totton , she had collapsed and had numerous holes all over her body where maggots were burrowing into her skin.

The eight-year-old’s infection was so serious that vets had no choice but to shave the shaken canine from head to toe to remove the infestation and relieve her from her suffering.

The RSPCA has now launched an investigation to track down those responsible for allowing her to get into such a state and for abandoning her without food or water.

A microchip found under her skin identified her as Misty and registered her to an address in Southend-on-Sea but her owners no longer live there and neighbours said they had moved on three or four years ago.

Misty, who also has a tumour on her right eye, has responded well to medication and is healing nicely thanks to the care she has received at the Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter, where she is staying before she heads off to her new home, where she can enjoy her last days in comfort.

RSPCA inspector Patrick Bailey, who has been leading the investigation since she was discovered on July 29, said: “We have drawn a blank and are now appealing for the public to come forward with any information.

“It is possible Misty was still living somewhere in Southend and was simply abandoned in Totton but without knowing the full story we cannot rule anything out, so we would urge anyone with information to come forward.

“From the condition that Misty was in, it would seem she has been kept as an outside dog and it is likely that somebody has seen her in a neighbour’s garden at some point and will perhaps now realise she is no longer there.”

Under the Animal Welfare Act, anyone found guilty of causing deliberate suffering to an animal can face up to six months in prison and/or a £20,000 fine.

Insp Bailey added: “We are hoping that someone will have information about where she has been living, who she belongs to, and crucially how she came to be abandoned in such a poor state.”

Anyone with information can call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Insp Bailey.

Comments(20)

MisterGrimsdale says...
6:49am Fri 31 Aug 12

Pass this story to the Daily Mail website. Half a million nosy neighbours will soon track her down.

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bigfella777 says...
7:17am Fri 31 Aug 12

How do they know it was dumped? It could have run away or got lost.

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wilson castaway says...
9:03am Fri 31 Aug 12

Poor creature.The one thing I hate more than anything is animal cruelty.

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dopplershift says...
9:09am Fri 31 Aug 12

bigfella777 wrote:
How do they know it was dumped? It could have run away or got lost.
Yes but surely since it got found late July someone would have reported it missing? The fact it was registered to a house where the owners haven't lived for 3 years means they hadn't taken the dog to the vets in that time or the details would have been updated.

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Stillness says...
9:13am Fri 31 Aug 12

I hope the government get to see this. It's a great example of how well compulsory microchiping is going to work.

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Dasal says...
10:30am Fri 31 Aug 12

Stillness wrote:
I hope the government get to see this. It's a great example of how well compulsory microchiping is going to work.
Yep.
We should all of had one implanted at birth, right !!
SO,SO WRONG !!!

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jazzi says...
12:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12

dopplershift wrote:
bigfella777 wrote:
How do they know it was dumped? It could have run away or got lost.
Yes but surely since it got found late July someone would have reported it missing? The fact it was registered to a house where the owners haven't lived for 3 years means they hadn't taken the dog to the vets in that time or the details would have been updated.
Vets do not update chip details, you have to contact The identichip peeps yourself and change details. It costs a small admin fee each time you change any information, such as address or phone number. Lets hope Misty is treated well and is content in her final years.

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sarfhamton says...
3:38pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Dasal wrote:
Stillness wrote:
I hope the government get to see this. It's a great example of how well compulsory microchiping is going to work.
Yep.
We should all of had one implanted at birth, right !!
SO,SO WRONG !!!
Yes and a tracker device too. If you have nothing to hide then why are you worried?

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Stillness says...
3:54pm Fri 31 Aug 12

sarfhamton wrote:
Dasal wrote:
Stillness wrote:
I hope the government get to see this. It's a great example of how well compulsory microchiping is going to work.
Yep.
We should all of had one implanted at birth, right !!
SO,SO WRONG !!!
Yes and a tracker device too. If you have nothing to hide then why are you worried?
It must be nice to be as naive as you. But then you wouldn't know would you. Perhaps you should ditch your name and just have a number.

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geoff51 says...
10:06pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Rotten Bar Stewards!
The poor dog gave love and loyalty all his life only too be dumped at the roadside when she needed love and attention in return.
Owners like that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and banned from keeping a dog for life.
Good luck Misty may you remaining years be happy and contented with a loving family, you deserve it.

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sparkster says...
3:19pm Sat 1 Sep 12

here here geoff, exactly your pet gives you love and loyalty and all it asks for in return is love and affection food and medical care when necessary, if people cant commit to pets they shouldnt have them in the first place, pets are for life not for throwing out like rubbish when they cant be bothered with them anymore

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Stillness says...
3:35pm Sat 1 Sep 12

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect Passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

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sparkster says...
4:25pm Sat 1 Sep 12

what a moving poem talk about moving

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Stillness says...
4:48pm Sat 1 Sep 12

sparkster wrote:
what a moving poem talk about moving
Don't be such a softy. People will accuse you of being human. It's by Rudyard Kipling.

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sparkster says...
6:33am Sun 2 Sep 12

Thanks i wondered who it was by, yeah im a softie but id rather have a heart than not

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Stillness says...
7:42am Sun 2 Sep 12

"Until one has loved an animal,a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France.

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Normandy says...
12:46pm Mon 3 Sep 12

If someone has left this poor dog in this state and pain they deserve to be locked up for a long time or even better have the same sufering, hope they are found and pay,
Hope the dog gets better and well done the person that found it

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Normandy says...
12:46pm Mon 3 Sep 12

If someone has left this poor dog in this state and pain they deserve to be locked up for a long time or even better have the same sufering, hope they are found and pay,
Hope the dog gets better and well done the person that found it

Report this post »

Normandy says...
12:46pm Mon 3 Sep 12

If someone has left this poor dog in this state and pain they deserve to be locked up for a long time or even better have the same sufering, hope they are found and pay,
Hope the dog gets better and well done the person that found it

Report this post »

Normandy says...
12:46pm Mon 3 Sep 12

If someone has left this poor dog in this state and pain they deserve to be locked up for a long time or even better have the same sufering, hope they are found and pay,
Hope the dog gets better and well done the person that found it

Report this post »

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