A heavily-pregnant dog covered in fleas and maggots was cruelly dumped in a cardboard box in Surrey (Image: RSPCA)“The vet team put her straight on a drip to get vital fluids into her little body.“A scan showed Penny was carrying six puppies.“Just a day after she was rescued, she gave birth, but very sadly none of the puppies survived.

People should think twice before deciding to get a pet during the lockdown over coronavirus , animal charities have said.The animal charity has advised people who can only take a pet on while they are staying at home to consider fostering instead.

It has received more than 112,000 calls from members of the public and there are now more than 4,600 animals in RSPCA care.A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘Although much of the country is in lockdown, sadly there are still thousands of animals who need our help, including abandoned pets.

The RSPCA has launched an emergency appeal amid the coronavirus outbreak (Image: RSPCA) The charity is appealing for donations as it continues to rescue and care for animals during the pandemic (Image: RSPCA)“We are facing immense challenges and huge pressures on strained resources, but our hugely dedicated teams are out there dealing with emergencies and our centres continue to deliver vital care to thousands of animals, with more expected in the coming weeks.

‘I felt really sorry for her when I saw her scarring and heard her story,’ said Ben. Mercedes – now called Sadie – has found a forever home (Picture: RSPCA)‘I was really sympathetic to what she’d been through and I think that’s really made me persist and spend lots of time helping her to settle and learn to trust people again.

As shelters brace for fewer volunteers and more surrendered animals, Australians are being urged to consider adopting or fostering.As the Covid-19 crisis progresses, RSPCA shelters around Australia have had to change their hours and take a number of other steps to protect their employees, volunteers and animals.

She was given a pet oxygen mask and helped to recover, but staff at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre were stunned to realise the dog isn’t actually grey – her fur is in fact a nice shade of light brown.

Rocco’s leg was broken and had to be amputated (Picture: Jake McPherson / SWNS)Could you help Rocco trust people again and give him the love he deserves?But instead of taking the dog to a vet, Rocco’s owners left him to suffer and the RSPCA had to step in.

Diefer needs a home with experienced owners and no other pets or children (Picture: RSPCA/PA)Hayley says: ‘He would suit experienced owners who have an active lifestyle with lots of time to spend helping Diefer develop his education and training further.

After numerous tests at the vet, it was found that Winston has an unusual double mutation of L2hga (or L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria) a debilitating genetic disease found in Staffies and some other breeds which can cause wobbly walking, fits or collapses, muscle cramps.

The deaths come as the RSPCA says that complaints about illegal puppy farming have increased dramatically over the past 10 years and that 87% of current puppy trade calls are about animals purchased online.

A six-year-old dog was found abandoned inside a church in Lancashire with a note from his heartbroken owner saying: “I am so so so sorry.”.

(Picture: RSPCA)Seven-year-old Kitty Kat was extremely poorly when he arrived at the RSPCA’s Birmingham Animal Centre in February – 320 days ago.

Percy is adorable (Picture: Laura Walters)Christmas has come early for one little puppy.Laura tells : ‘As soon as I heard what happened I felt like he deserved the best, and I knew he would love walking all day and sleeping on the sofa all night!

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) states that the consumption of large quantities of salt can cause pets to experience excessive thirst and urination, in addition to potential sodium poisoning.Onions, garlics, leeks, shallots and chives can prove toxic for animals, Maria Banica, a vet at Blue Cross pet charity, states.

Meet Sparkle, the three-year-old Shih Tzu. Sparkle is just lovely (Picture: RSPCA)Sparkle – like the star on top of your tree – is described as being a ‘very sweet little dog’ with a lovely temperament.

The RSPCA is asking for help to look after nine miniature Dachshund puppies, named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolf, as well as their mum, Olive.

SHOCKED animal crime investigators are hunting a gunman who shot a mother dog twice in the head after she had puppies.Vets say the extremely emaciated dog would have suffered considerably before she died and her body dumped in the field.

Toby, an 11-year-old black and white cat, has spent 322 days with the RSPCA after being taken in by their Canterbury branch on Christmas Eve 2018.“Toby’s former housemates were re-homed quite quickly,” explained Beth Hixson from the RSPCA Canterbury branch.

The rise in the number of obese pet cats and dogs in the UK is forcing vets to use heavy lifting equipment to avoid injury, figures show.