Content note: this story describes a severely starved dog. Some images show a dog in very poor condition.
Today Spud spends his evenings curled up on the sofa with the people who love him. But in May 2020, he was found somewhere no dog should ever be: alone inside a garden shed, starving.
Found in a shed
When an RSPCA inspector found Spud, he had been left inside a garden shed. He was extremely emaciated. He weighed just 11.5kg.
The inspector said his condition was so bad that he could barely stand.
The first pictures of Spud are difficult to look at. His body is skeletal, every bone pushing against his skin. He looks like a dog who had stopped expecting anyone to come.
Nobody will ever know exactly how long he was left there, or how many days he waited in the dark for food that never arrived. What we do know is that somebody shut a door on him and walked away.
Into safe hands
Spud was taken into the care of the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford branch, a small, self-funded branch that cares for animals across Calderdale, Huddersfield and Bradford. Many of the animals it takes in have suffered terrible neglect.
As soon as Spud arrived, he was taken to the vets so they could assess his condition. The team put together a daily care plan straight away.
The aim was to help him gain weight slowly and safely. A starved dog can’t simply be given a big meal. His body needed time, small steps and careful watching.
Learning to be a dog again
Feeding Spud was only part of the plan. The team also wanted to help him adjust to life in kennels, and to ease him into gentle walks and training. Bit by bit, they wanted to get him fit and well enough to one day find a loving home.
Spud thrived. Week after week, he grew stronger.
He loved his “office time” with the staff. He enjoyed learning new commands and going on his daily walks. Most of all, the branch said, he loved all the attention and kindness he got from the animal care team.
Nearly doubling his weight
By the end of his recovery, Spud had gained a remarkable 9.5kg. He went from 11.5kg to a healthy 21kg, almost double the weight he was when he was found.
The dog who could barely stand was now a strong, happy, healthy dog, ready for the next chapter.
A forever home
Then Spud found his perfect forever home.
His adopters sent the branch an update not long after he moved in.
“Spud has settled in so well,” they wrote. “He loves his cuddles, often spending 7.30pm until 11.30pm on the sofa with us! And loves picking the sunniest spot in the house to lay down for a chill!”
For a dog who was once left in a dark shed, it is hard to imagine a better ending than spending his days hunting for the sunniest spot in the house.
The branch said that after such a horrendous start in life, they couldn’t be happier for him. Hearing how happy and loved their animals are in their new homes, they said, is the icing on the cake for the team.
Why stories like Spud’s matter
Spud was lucky. Someone raised the alarm, an inspector came, and a team of people refused to give up on him.
Not every dog in his situation is found in time. If you ever see an animal that you think is being neglected, report it. In England and Wales, you can contact the RSPCA’s cruelty line.
And if you are thinking about getting a dog, consider adopting from a rescue centre. Dogs like Spud are waiting for someone to give them the life they always deserved.
Source: RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford branch (“Spud’s Story and transformation”, 2021) and Yorkshire Live / Examiner Live.
Images in this article are illustrative recreations made for this story, not photographs of the dog.
