- Rosie was found abandoned in a hedge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
- Despite coming close to death, she has since made a full recovery with the RSPCA
- Rosie is now ready to move into her forever home
A dog that was abandoned in a hedge and left to die on Christmas Day has made a miraculous recovery.
Rosie the thief was found in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, on Christmas Day 2023 by a woman walking her own dog, Tammy.
The shocked resident contacted the RSPCA and Rosie was rushed to the vets for emergency treatment, where she received 24-hour care.
She was left dangerously thin, with a number of puncture marks on her body and a leg infection. Rosie had also found purple antibiotic spray on her body where attempts had been made to treat the wounds.
Despite all odds, Rosie fought back and has since recovered from her injuries at the York, Harrogate and district RSPCA branches.
Rosie the thief was found in a hedge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, on Christmas Day 2023 by a woman walking her own dog. The shocked resident contacted the RSPCA and Rosie was rushed to the vets for emergency treatment, where she was placed at the age of 24. hours of care
Rosie the lurcher after she fully recovered from her injuries. Rosie is now ready to find her forever home
Wildlife officer James Dack said: ‘Rosie was extremely lucky to be discovered as it was a quiet country lane and there were very few people around. She was hidden from view and if Tammy hadn’t tracked her down, I’m sure she wouldn’t have been found in time.”
Rosie was left dangerously thin, with a number of puncture marks on her body and a leg infection. Ruth McCabe, branch animal center manager, said: “It was tense, but this brave little girl fought hard and came out the other side.”
(Left) Rosie when she was rescued on Christmas Day after being spotted in a hedge by a passerby and Rosie today (right) looking much healthier and ready to find her forever home
According to the York, Harrogate and District Branch RSPCA website, Rosie is said to have since found her forever home, as the website now says the thief has been reserved, ready to start a new life.
Ruth McCabe, animal center manager at the branch, said: “It was tense, but this brave little girl fought hard and came out on the other side.
‘We don’t know anything about her past, but she is quite traumatized by what she has been through. Rosie slowly comes out of her shell and learns to trust again.
‘She had been sprayed with pink and purple antibacterial spray by whoever dumped her in the ditch that night and this is still growing out of her but she appears to be in good health now.
‘There was concern that her infected leg would have to be amputated, but fortunately this was not the case.’
Wildlife officer James Dack said: ‘Rosie was extremely lucky to be discovered as it was a quiet country lane and there were very few people around.
‘She was hidden from view and if Tammy hadn’t tracked her down I’m sure she wouldn’t have been found in time.
‘We’re not sure how long she was there – possibly all night – and in addition to all her injuries, it was extremely cold.
‘She had clearly been dumped and left to die. An attempt was made to treat her wounds with an antiseptic spray, but whoever callously abandoned her probably thought, ‘She’s hurt, she’s going out, I’ll just leave her behind.’
“It was a shocking incident to experience on Christmas Day, but that’s why we’re there 365 days a year and it was a pleasure to be able to help Rosie.”
Rosie was just hours away from death after she was callously dumped in a hedge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire (Google Street View)
Mr Dack said: ‘We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the kind member of the public who stopped to help – without her I think we could have been looking at a different outcome – and to the wonderful team at RSPCA York, Harrogate and District who have transformed Rosie into the healthy and sweet girl you see today.”
Although Rosie was chipped at an address in Nottinghamshire, the details were not up to date and the RSPCA has been told she was sold to someone in the Wales/Shropshire area around four years ago.
The RSPCA continues to investigate who is responsible and anyone with information is urged to contact them.