A 2-year-old lurcher and her six puppies were found abandoned in a remote field, with the mother dog tightly chained to a metal fence post by her collar. The puppies were still too young to open their eyes and were left without any food or water. The mother was struggling to nurse her babies while being constrained by the chain. A concerned passerby discovered them on November 6 near Elphin, and immediately sought help. The ISPCA took custody of both the mother and her puppies, and transferred them to a nearby veterinary facility.
It was unclear how long the family of seven had been stranded in their location. Reports suggest that the mother dog and her puppies were left alone soon after she had given birth. The Daily Mail reported that the young dog was tied up without any access to food, water or shelter. This act could have endangered the lives of the dogs. The recent heavy rainfall and low temperatures could have resulted in a different outcome. Thankfully, the ISPCA center was notified, and the team managed to rescue the dogs. Hugh O’Toole, the center manager, stated that the dogs were sent for immediate medical care. The animals were brought to the ISPCA’s national animal facility in County Longford, where they received medical attention. Fortunately, there were no significant injuries sustained by the mother and her pups, apart from having suffered from hunger and the cold.
Taking in a family of seven was quite a challenge for the ISPCA. The organization is always at full capacity and has very limited resources. They have even had to hire private boarding kennels to accommodate the high number of animals waiting to be taken in. Finding responsible and appropriate homes for all the animals they care for can be a lengthy process. It is baffling how anyone could think it is acceptable to leave a dog tied to a fence to nurse her puppies. This kind of cruelty angers animal lovers everywhere.
The ISPCA received a flood of responses after posting pictures of a calm and charming lurcher with her offspring on Facebook. A commentator stated, “With so much cruelty around us, this has to be the most depressing photograph I’ve ever seen. It’s just terrible, the poor mother dog attempting to safeguard her puppies.” Another Facebook user stated that animal cruelty would continue until stricter laws and harsher penalties were implemented. As other countries have done, lawmakers must revise animal welfare regulations. Despite microchipping being a legal requirement in the United Kingdom, Emmy Lou, the mother dog, was not microchipped and could not be traced back to an owner.
Emmy Lou’s six adorable puppies have been given equally adorable names such as Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, June, and Patsy. Luckily, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has taken care of these cute little pups until they reach the right age to be adopted. The ISPCA is just one of many animal welfare agencies that encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their pets to lessen the number of homeless animals. Emmy Lou and her furry brood were fortunate enough to cross paths with a kind-hearted passerby during a chilly November stroll in the rural Irish countryside. Who knows, this chance encounter may end up benefiting the pups for years to come.