A dog who was found abandoned – huddled behind a bush – is now on the road to recovery and is looking for a new home.
Dogue de Bordeaux cross Roxy, three, was found huddled under a hedge on a driveway in Boxted, Essex, on 21 April, by a local resident.
RSPCA inspector Nicky Thorne, who investigated Roxy’s case, said: “Poor Roxy was incredibly frightened when members of the public found her, and she was cowering behind a bush; it looked like she’d given up.
“They gave her some treats to win over her trust and took her to a local vet so she could receive emergency veterinary treatment and the vets contacted us when they saw how emaciated and neglected she was.
“When I first saw her I was shocked at how painfully thin she was. She was skin and bone; you could see all of her ribs.”
Roxy was taken in by the team at the National Animal Welfare Trust, in Clacton, and she’s now looking for a loving new home.
Nicky added: “Roxy has made a wonderful transformation; she looks like a different dog now!”
Stacey Sheppard, from National Animal Welfare Trust Essex, said: “We’ve been feeding Roxy a good diet and giving her lots and lots of cuddles, and she’s now feeling a lot better. She’s come so far and is feeling a lot better, but she still has further to go.
“Now Roxy is healthier and happier, we’d really like to find her a lovely new home. She’s a big, beautiful girl who loves snuggles and enjoys snoozing on the sofa.
“We’ve been introducing exercise slowly and gradually building up her strength and stamina, but she’ll definitely enjoy going on walks in her new home. She’s also started to show us her playful side and it turns out she really loves her toys!”
The team taking care of Roxy said she enjoys the company of other dogs so may be able to live with another dog, but would like a home without young children.
Nicky added: “Anyone who is interested in offering Roxy a new home will need to work with the team at the National Animal Welfare Trust while she continues to recover from her ordeal.”
Roxy struggles being left home alone so she’ll need a family who can spend time helping her to settle in and build her confidence before teaching her that it’s okay to be home alone.
Stacey added: “Life for Roxy may be full of firsts and she’ll need a patient owner who can guide her paws along the way. Things are on the up for her now and we can’t wait for her to find her forever home.”
The RSPCA followed up a number of lines of enquiries but officers weren’t able to find the person responsible for neglecting Roxy. Anyone with any information can call the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
