Nine dogs were found abandoned in a ditch in Winchester, Hampshire county, U.K. by the RSPCA. The dogs were in such a terrible condition that they weren’t even instantly recognizable as dogs.
Construction worker Matt Southcott, one of the Good Samaritans who reported the dogs by the road, told The Daily Mail he initially thought the dogs were a bundle of rags, adding, “I couldn’t tell if they were sheep or dogs. You couldn’t see their faces. They looked so badly matted and injured. I have never seen an animal in that state.”
A hunt is on for the dog owner as the RSPCA suspect the dogs have been abused and mistreated since they were puppies. Winchester City Council’s Senior Animal Welfare Officer, Dave Griffiths, told the Daily Mirror that he believes the dogs were raised in awful conditions:
“In my 25 years of being in this line of work I’ve never seen anything like it. Because they are all poodles or poodle crosses and from the same litter, it is likely that they are from one owner.”
Griffiths believes that the dogs were most likely housed in an outdoor shed of sorts. They were so neglected that they couldn’t even stand from all the matted fur and malnutrition.
“They were terrified and and really scared, my heart went out to them,” said Griffiths. It took three hours to shave all the pups down. The dogs were so fearful of a human’s touch, rescue workers also believe they experienced beatings.
Poodles normally weigh about 55lbs but after they had been properly cleaned up, they were half the weight they should have been!
The dogs are being cared for by the RSPCA and are finally getting the love and attention they deserve!
The RSPCA has also put out a plea requesting ANY information on the person(s) responsible for the abusive treatment of these pups!
There are plenty of other dogs like these pups that would love and appreciate a furever home. If you’d like to help a dog in need and are interested in adopting, bound on over to BarkBuddy!
Watch their transformation below:
