Dogs hailed as ‘warriors’ and ‘lucky to be alive’ by USPCA

The abandonment of dogs in the locality remains a “grave issue”, the USPCA has said.

Nora Smith, the organisation’s CEO, was speaking after the animal charity highlighted a number of harrowing cruelty and neglect cases in recent weeks.

They included a heart-wrenching case involving a severely neglected dog found climbing out of a river in Markethill.

The USPCA dog groomers removed all the matted fur from the small dog, which revealed him to be a Yorkie-Shih tzu cross.

The USPCA vet team then carried out a full health check. Despite being underweight and clearly suffering for some time with all the matted fur, the little dog has been receiving plenty of TLC from the team and is making a good recovery.

Two weeks previously they dealt with two separate incidents of dogs with badly broken legs, abandoned, frightened and in severe pain. One of the dogs named Asha, who was found on the Armagh Road, underwent lifesaving surgery which resulted in a leg amputation.

With all three cases, members of the public discovered these animals and brought them to the USPCA Animal Hospital in Newry.

Nora Smith, CEO of the USPCA said “All three of these dogs are lucky to be alive, and we are so grateful to the members of the public who found them and brought them to us for the essential treatment they required.

"Despite their ordeal, we are hopeful that these resilient dogs will be able to overcome their trauma, and eventually find loving homes where they will receive the care and compassion. They are three warriors who deserve to spend the rest of their lives surrounded by love and affection.”

“Animal abandonment and cruelty are grave issues that demand our immediate attention as a society.

"It is essential that we come together to raise awareness about the consequences of these terrible acts of abandonment.”

The USPCA urges the community to take action against animal abandonment and cruelty. By reporting any suspected cases to your local Council, supporting local animal shelters, and adopting or fostering animals in need, the public can make a real difference in their lives.

For more information on USPCA initiatives, the public can visit www.uspca.co.uk or call 028 3025 1000.