A 2-year-old lurcher dog was found tied tightly to a metal fence post in a secluded field, along with her six tiny puppies who were still too young to even open their eyes. They had been left without food or water, with the mother struggling to care for her babies while restrained by the chain around her collar.
A concerned passerby discovered the helpless little family in a field close to Elphin, as reported by the Irish Times on November 6. The individual quickly sought help, leading to the rescue of the mother and her pups. They were taken to a nearby veterinary facility operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).
No one knew how long the family of seven dogs had been stranded there. Rescuers suspect that the mother and her puppies were abandoned shortly after giving birth, as reported by the Daily Mail. Hugh O’Toole, the manager of the ISPCA center, expressed concern about leaving a young dog tied up without food, water, or shelter, putting her life and the lives of her puppies at risk.
O’Toole mentioned that due to heavy rains and cold temperatures, the situation could have turned out worse if they hadn’t been rescued in time. The seven dogs were taken to the ISPCA’s national animal facility in County Longford for urgent medical attention. Thankfully, they were not seriously harmed, despite enduring hunger and freezing temperatures.
Taking in a family of seven was quite a challenge for the ISPCA. O’Toole mentioned that their centers were constantly full, and resources were scarce. They had even resorted to using private boarding kennels at times to accommodate the animals waiting to be taken in. It often took a while to find good, caring homes for all the animals in their care.
O’Toole expressed disbelief at the idea of someone thinking it was acceptable to abandon a dog tied to a fence with her puppies. This sentiment resonated with animal lovers all over the world.
The ISPCA stirred up a wave of emotions with their post featuring an endearing and resolute lurcher and her puppies on Facebook. One commenter expressed how shocking and heartbreaking the image was, highlighting the ongoing issue of cruelty towards animals. Another commenter called for stricter laws and harsher penalties for animal abusers, insisting that it’s time for a change. They emphasized the need for political action to update and strengthen animal welfare regulations, following the lead of other countries. Despite the UK’s legal requirement for microchipping, the mother dog, affectionately named Emmy Lou, was not microchipped, making it difficult to trace her back to an owner.
The adorable puppies go by the names of Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, June, and Patsy. They are currently under the care of the ISPCA until they are ready to find loving forever homes.
The ISPCA, just like animal welfare groups worldwide, promotes the importance of spaying and neutering pets to control the number of homeless animals.
A compassionate individual stumbled upon Emmy Lou and her puppies on a chilly autumn day in the beautiful Irish countryside, becoming their guardian angel and potentially changing their lives for the better for years to come.
