Content note: this story describes neglect and the death of a dog.
In an abandoned house in Drefach, near Llandysul in west Wales, RSPCA Cymru found two dogs. Only one of them was still alive.
That dog was Charlie, a three-year-old staffie-type dog. He was emaciated, with a body condition score of 1 out of 9, the lowest possible. His ribs and hips were clearly visible. His companion, a 12-year-old dog called Suki, had not survived.
A frightened, starving dog
Charlie had been left without enough food for a long time. When he was found he was weak and painfully thin. He was taken for urgent veterinary care, where vets began the slow and careful process of feeding him back to health.
For a dog in that state, every small meal matters. Too much too fast can be dangerous, so his food was increased bit by bit while staff watched him closely.
Coming back to life
With time, food and gentle care, Charlie began to recover. He gained weight, his strength returned and his happy, friendly face started to shine through.
He was cared for at RSPCA Llys Nini, and in February he was rehomed with a new family. The dog found in an abandoned house finally had a home where he would never be left behind again.
Justice for Charlie and Suki
Charlie’s owner, Ricky Harrison, was prosecuted. At Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on 9 September 2026, he was banned from keeping animals for life and given a one-year suspended sentence.
Remembering Suki
Suki’s story did not have a happy ending, and she deserves to be remembered. Charlie’s survival, and his new life, are a reminder of why reporting neglect quickly can save lives.
Story retold from public reporting. Credit: RSPCA Cymru, via WalesOnline.
Images in this article are illustrative recreations made for this story, not photographs of the dog.
