Abandoned Dog Found on Christmas Day in North Yorkshire “Lucky to Be Alive”

NORTH YORKSHIRE, U.K. — On what should have been a morning filled with warmth and celebration, a dog left for dead in the cold countryside was instead given a second chance at life.

Rosie, a seven-year-old lurcher, was discovered at around 7:30 a.m. on Christmas Day collapsed in a hedgerow on Spen Common Lane near Tadcaster. Weak, emaciated, and barely responsive, Rosie was hidden from view — and might never have been seen if not for the quick nose of another dog who sniffed her out while on a walk with her owner.

A Desperate Condition

When found, Rosie was covered in purple antibiotic spray — evidence that someone had attempted to treat her but then cruelly abandoned her when her condition worsened. Her body bore numerous puncture wounds, and she was so frail she could not even lift her head.

“She had to be carried back to the finder’s house,” said James, one of the RSPCA officers involved. “Rosie was extremely fortunate to be discovered, as it was a quiet country lane with very few people around.”

Rosie was immediately rushed to a 24-hour animal hospital, where vets placed her on a drip and began round-the-clock care. Though still very weak, she is now making encouraging progress. Her rear leg, badly infected, is responding to treatment, though it remains uncertain whether amputation will ultimately be necessary.

“Dumped and Left to Die”

James described the case as one of heartbreaking neglect:

“She had a number of sporadic wounds all over her body and an infection in one of her hind legs. We’re not sure how long she had been lying there — possibly overnight — but she may well have succumbed to her injuries and the cold had she not been found. She had clearly been dumped and left to die.”

He continued, “Whoever abandoned her had made some attempt to treat her wounds with antiseptic spray but then callously decided to just walk away. They probably thought, ‘she’s injured, she’s on her way out, I’ll just leave her’. It’s utterly shocking.”

The RSPCA Appeals for Information

The RSPCA is now funding Rosie’s treatment and has launched an appeal for anyone who may recognize her or who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to come forward.

“This was a shocking incident to deal with on Christmas Day,” James said. “But it’s exactly why we are out there 365 days a year. It was a privilege to be able to help Rosie, and we’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to the kind member of the public — and her dog — who found her. Without them, we might have been looking at a very different outcome.”

The charity also praised the veterinary team who have been caring tirelessly for Rosie since her rescue.

A Glimmer of Hope

Though her road to recovery may be long, Rosie has already shown remarkable resilience. Each day brings small signs of improvement, and the RSPCA remains hopeful that she will pull through and eventually find the loving home she deserves.

For now, Rosie is safe, warm, and cared for — a stark contrast to the cold hedgerow where she was cruelly abandoned.