Can you help?

Gables Dogs and Cats Home staff were recently called to help with yet another suspected puppy farm, located in a seemingly typical family home in the centre of Plymouth.

After accessing the house, two female adult dogs were found crammed into tiny cages in a dark, filthy room. Both dogs had no food or water and were left sitting in months’ worth of their own waste. Their claws were overgrown, the pads on their paws were burnt from standing on the urine-soaked floor. They were both severely underweight and nursing litters of very young puppies.

Another eight severely underweight dogs were found running loose in another filthy, rubbish strewn room. They also had no food or water and had no access to the outside world. This room had been used as their toilet - all eight dogs’ long hair being heavily matted with their own waste.

All 19 dogs and puppies were signed over to Gables so they could receive the urgent attention they desperately needed to save their lives. All ten adult dogs began to gain weight in a matter of days. The adults had their severely matted coats shaved off and they were bathed, clipped and groomed by Dee, from Designer Pets and her daughter, who removed an incredible 5kg of urine-soaked, muck-covered hair from all the dogs.

All the dogs and puppies will need to be neutered or spayed before looking for their forever homes. Some will need dental work, ear treatments and hernia repairs; they will all require medical baths.

Ruth Rickard, deputy manager, said: ‘I have attended several rescues throughout my career and no matter how many times you do it, that smell is indescribable.

‘It really brought home how these poor dogs had needlessly suffered every day. As well as the obvious physical neglect, they had never been socialised so were extremely nervous and scared. Our priority is to give them all the love, attention and support they need to go on to have much happier futures.

It is estimated it will cost Gables an additional £5,000 for the essential treatment and ongoing care these 19 dogs and puppies need.

If Gables is lucky enough to raise more money than needed it will go towards helping the other animals in their care.

If you can make a contribution to ‘Shih Tzu Shambles Vet Appeal’, please call 01752 331602 or visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/shihtzushambles to donate online.

You can also donate via text: To donate £1, text GABLESSH to 70201; to donate £3, text GABLESSH to 70331; to donate £5, text GABLESSH to 70970; to donate £10, text GABLESSH to 70191

* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate.