‘Please give them a funeral’: Appeal after emaciated dead dog found on Valentine’s Day

An emaciated dead dog was dumped on Valentine’s Day, prompting the RSPCA to ask the public for their help.

The dog was taken to a vets with a heartbreaking typed-up note from the person who found the animal, saying: “Please give them a funeral.”

The animal welfare charity is now appealing to anyone who recognises the dog to get in touch – as well as the person who found the dog, as they left no contact details.

RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday said: “This poor dog was extremely emaciated and not in a good way at all – she had an infection of the uterus and is likely to have been very poorly before passing away. It is thought that she had been dead for between 24-48 hours.

“We don’t know for certain where she was dumped as the person who found her didn’t make themselves known. They left the dog at the vets with a note stating that the dog had been found in their garden and they didn’t want to leave the dog there.”

The dog – a female brindle Staffordshire bull terrier – was left outside the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Merton, South West London, overnight and was found on Valentine’s Day morning by staff.

The note left with the dog said: “This dog was left in my garden and unfortunately was dead when I found them. I do not know who the owner is and I did not know what to do and I did not want to leave the dog in the streets. Please give them a funeral. I will leave a donation.”

Harriet added: “We are keen to speak to the person who found the dog as we want to find out more about the location where the dog was found.”

Anyone with information should call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 01222379.

The animal welfare charity has launched a dedicated cost of living hub to help those who are struggling with the ongoing economic situation.

Nicky Mackay, Practice Manager at Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Merton, said: “It’s a very sad case for all the team at our hospital to deal with and we’d urge anyone who can help the RSPCA to contact them with any information.

“We know people are struggling financially but we’d really urge anyone to reach out for help if they need advice and support for a pet.”
The RSPCA is concerned that the cost of living crisis is affecting pet owners who are unable to afford to pay for vet bills. The charity’s landmark Animal Kindness Index highlights the stark challenges ahead – with 19% of pet owners worried about feeding their pets, and 28% worried about being able to care for their pets, amid these unprecedented pressures.

Harriet said: “We understand that times are hard financially for many people. If your animal needs veterinary care, please do ask for help rather than leaving them to suffer or abandoning them. The RSPCA has a Cost of Living hub on its website for pet-owners who are struggling to cope with the cost of food or healthcare.”

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