Wood Green Animal Shelters is reeling after seeing one of its worst cases of animal neglect.

An extremely emaciated dog was brought into Wood Green’s shelter in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire on Thursday evening after being found at the side of the road in Baldock, Hertfordshire.
                                                                                                                                                         Rusty, as he has been named by Shelter staff, had no hair at all on his body and just a few wispy bits on his face and tail, his body was covered in lacerations, his ribs were protruding and he was extremely dehydrated.  The nails on his feet have grown so much that they had curled under.  Rusty needed urgent medical treatment and since Thursday he has been receiving round the clock care from vets and nurses.

Dennis Baker, CEO of Wood Green Animal Shelters said, "We are all extremely shocked and distressed at Rusty’s condition.  There was no doubt that he was near to death. Our main priority now is to make him as comfortable as possible while we try to treat his many ailments.  All of the staff have been working extremely hard to ensure that Rusty survives and receives the best love and attention that he we can give him.  To allow an animal to reach this state of neglect is criminal and would warrant prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act."

It is too early for vets to say whether Rusty will survive such awful neglect but with the constant care he is receiving both physically and mentally he is in the best hands.  If Rusty does survive it will take months of intensive care before Wood Green can even think about finding him a new home, which will cost the Charity many thousands of pounds in treatment.

If you would like to help Wood Green with the cost of caring for Rusty please click here