A dog who was found straying with a broken leg is getting used to life as a tripod after vets had to amputate her leg.
Saluki Sandy was found by a member of the public loose near the A46 in Lincoln in July and the dog warden was called. She had a badly broken leg so it’s believed she may have been hit by a car.
RSPCA inspectors helped to track down her owners, who’d been looking for her, but sadly they couldn’t afford to pay for the treatment for her broken leg and signed her over to the charity for care.
RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield & District Branch took her in for TLC. Animal care manager Megan Rattray said: “Sandy had x-rays and an operation to put pins in the broken bone but, sadly, this only worked for a short period of time.
“Our team was helping her with physio but it was clear she was still in pain so she went back to the vets who confirmed that, sadly, her weakened leg had broken again. Vets advised that we have her leg amputated as they felt that if we tried to repair the bones again it could fail; particularly as, due to her breed, her bones are quite delicate.”
Sandy had her leg amputated on 20 July and is now recovering well. But the branch – which is facing increasing bills and more animals coming into its care as owners struggle to afford them due to the cost of living crisis – was left with a £1,300 bill.
The team is appealing to its loyal supporters to help cover Sandy’s costs and has launched a special fundraiser for her bill on JustGiving.
Megan added: “We know times are tough for everyone but we’d appreciate any help our wonderful supporters can give us.
“Sandy has adapted really well since losing her leg and is managing to get around. She still has some way to go in her recovery but we’re pleased that she’s already got a family interested in adopting her! She’s already trying zoomies so we do have to slow her down sometimes and remind her that she’s recovering from major surgery. But we’re sure she’ll be back to her speedy ways in no time at all!
“Sandy is such a sweet and affectionate girl. She loves giving kisses and stretching out for naps on the sofa. She’s got a bright future ahead, but that’s only been possible due to everyone who has helped her along the way!”
The animal welfare charity is highlighting the number of animals in need this summer as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty summer appeal. The charity is concerned that calls reporting cruelty rise over the summer months and is urging the public to help it tackle animal abuse.
The RSPCA receives around 90,000 calls to its cruelty line every month, but in the summer (June-August) calls rise to 134,000 a month. With the increase in pet ownership and the cost of living crisis putting a strain on people’s finances, rescuers now fear more animals will be abandoned or relinquished.
