A severely neglected Saluki named Susie is facing the heartbreaking prospect of losing her front leg after being found wandering the streets in an appalling condition—dressed in football socks.
The brindle-coated dog was discovered last month on a garage forecourt in Lepton, West Yorkshire, by a concerned member of the public. In addition to being dangerously underweight and infested with worms, she was wearing black football socks on three of her legs. Underneath the socks, her skin was raw and covered in painful sores.
RSPCA Inspector Rebecca Goulding explained that Susie’s ordeal was even worse than it first appeared.
“We believe her leg had been broken for about a week before she was found, and the socks had been on longer. The broken leg also had a wound where a sock had been,” Goulding said.
The poor dog was suffering from both sarcoptic mange and ringworm, making her skin conditions not only painful but also highly contagious. She was also dangerously emaciated. Vets had to sedate her before carefully removing the socks, which had likely been left on for an extended period.
Susie has since been transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where she is now on a special diet to help her gain weight and is receiving daily treatment for her skin. However, there are grave concerns that her front right leg will have to be amputated because it has started to heal incorrectly.
“Her skin conditions mean she must be kept in strict isolation, and while she’s receiving the very best care, she is still far from out of the woods,” Goulding added.
Susie was found without a microchip, despite this being required by law, meaning her owner has not been identified. The RSPCA has launched an investigation into how she came to be in such a shocking state.
For now, the resilient Saluki is safe, warm, and cared for—but her journey to recovery will be long, and her future remains uncertain.