Fairytale ending as Precious finds home
A neglected dog who owes its life to two Express & Star readers has battled back to health and now has a new home – with the very same couple.
Precious, a cross-terrier was found in a bin bag near the Orbital Retail Park, in Cannock, in March, with fur so badly matted she resembled rags. Diagnosed with a rare hormone disorder called Cushing's disease, unable to walk and in need of a costly operation the future seemed bleak.
That was until the Express & Star featured her plight and a Staffordshire couple came forward to pay the full £1,000 cost of her operation, in memory of their own dog who died four years ago and also suffered with Cushing's.
Hundreds of pounds were also donated by the public to help towards her life-long medical costs.
After weeks of therapy and loving care by the RSPCA Precious was strong enough to be offered a permanent home with the couple who paid for her operation.
The couple, from a village near Stafford, picked up their new addition to the family at the weekend and told the Express & Star: "This little dog has been to hell and back and she needs you to tell her you are there all the time. She is very affectionate and she loves to go for a walk.
"The last few months have been an amazing journey for us after we saw the story in the paper. I had hoped she might become ours and it seemed like fate after our dog had Cushing's as well. She is going to give us a lot of love and we are going to give her all the love in the world back."
RSPCA Inspector Penny Wieland, who collected Precious on the day she was found, praised the readers for their generosity.
She added: "I still can't believe Precious has come through everything she has. When we found her she was extremely weak and couldn't walk and I fully expected her to die. I have been an inspector for three years and this is the worst case of neglect I have seen and other colleagues who have been with the RSPCA for many years have said the same.
"This is a fairytale ending for Precious. Taking on any dog is 100 per cent commitment but taking on Precious is a 300 per cent commitment, but I don't think she could have a better home. All the money donated by Express & Star readers has gone to Precious' care and what is left will buy some tablets she will need for the rest of her life."
