27th July 2026
On Thursday, we received a call from a member of the public who had found a dog lying in a ditch.
She was still alive. One of our team immediately drove to the location, which was thankfully close to our shelter. The kind woman who found her stayed by her side until we arrived, and together they managed to lift her safely from the ditch.
The dog was severely underweight and suffering from extensive sores and wounds. She could barely walk, and it was clear she had been living with significant neglect for quite some time.
Although she was microchipped, the chip was not registered to an owner. Once again, we are faced with a case where it may not be possible to hold anyone accountable for the suffering this dog endured.
We don’t know how she came to be in the ditch, but given her condition, it seems unlikely she could have travelled there on her own.
Sadly, despite every effort, it became clear that her condition was too advanced. The kindest thing we could do was to let her go peacefully and with dignity.
Our inspectors and veterinary teams deal with heartbreaking situations every week, but some cases stay with you. We’re incredibly grateful to the woman who stopped, cared enough to make the call, and stayed with this little dog until help arrived. Because of her compassion, she did not have to spend her final moments alone.
If you see an animal in distress or are concerned about animal welfare,
please contact our National Helpline on 1800 264 625.
