The story describes a mother dog who faced immense challenges while caring for her six newborn puppies. The 2-year-old dog, named Lurcher, was found tied to a metal pole in a remote field, abandoned with her puppies, who were too young to open their eyes. With no food or water, she struggled to nurse her puppies while constrained by the chain around her neck.
According to the Irish Times on November 6, a passerby discovered the nursing mother and her puppies abandoned in a field near the small village of Elphi. The passerby immediately sought help, and the mother and her puppies were taken to a nearby veterinary facility operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).
It was unclear how long the family of seven had been left in that condition. Rescuers, as reported by the Daily Mail, believe that the mother and her puppies were abandoned shortly after the puppies were born.
“Leaving a young dog, just two years old, tied up without food, water, or shelter poses a serious threat to its life and that of its puppies,” said Hugh O’Toole, ISPCA center manager.
“With the recent heavy rain and low temperatures,” he added, “the situation could have been much worse. I’m thankful for the quick response that allowed us to rescue them.”
The seven animals were taken to the ISPCA Special Animal Facility in Longford County for immediate medical care. Thankfully, although they were severely injured and had endured hunger and extreme cold, they were able to receive the treatment they needed.
Caring for the family of seven was a challenging task for the ISPCA.
“Our centers are always at capacity, and our resources are extremely limited,” said Hugh O’Toole. “At times, we have to use private kennels to manage the number of animals in our care. Finding suitable and responsible homes for all these animals can be a lengthy process.”
He expressed disbelief at how anyone could think it acceptable to leave a dog tied up while nursing her puppies, reflecting the sentiments of animal lovers everywhere.
When the ISPCA shared photos of the mother dog and her puppies on Facebook, the response was overwhelming. “This has to be the saddest photo I’ve ever seen,” commented one user. “It’s alarming how much cruelty exists. Seeing the poor mother dog trying to protect her puppies is just shocking.”
“This kind of terrible treatment will persist until we have stronger laws and stricter policies against animal abuse,” said one commenter on Facebook, adding, “Enough is enough. Politicians need to take action and reform animal welfare regulations, as other countries have done.”
Although microchipping is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom, the mother dog, whom rescuers named Emmy Lou, was not microchipped and could not be traced to her owner.
The puppies, named Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, Joe, and Patsy, will remain with the ISPCA until they are old enough to be adopted.
The ISPCA, like many animal welfare organizations worldwide, continues to advocate for pet owners to spay and neuter their pets to help reduce the number of unwanted animals.
A compassionate passerby discovered Emmy Lou and her puppies on a cold November day in the Irish countryside, ensuring they received the care they needed and will continue to be supported for years to come.
