RSPCA appeal after dog with grapefruit-sized tumour is found in Rochdale

A female dog found in Rochdale with a large untreated mammary tumour has prompted an RSPCA appeal for information.

The white and tan bull-type dog was found lying on grass outside flats at Daventry Road, at the corner of Hogarth Road, by a member of the public when they left for work at about about 5.30am on Wednesday 23 August.

She is believed to have been abandoned and was found with a distressing-looking grapefruit-sized mammary tumour which was ulcerated.

The tumour appears to have been left untreated for some considerable time. 

RSPCA inspector Rachel Whalley collected the dog after the animal welfare charity was contacted about the incident, and immediately took her to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital in Salford.

Sadly the severity of the tumour meant that a vet had no choice but to put her to sleep.

The RSPCA is appealing to anyone who recognises her to get in touch. CCTV footage from the local area is also being looked at.

 

 

A scan showed she wasn't microchipped, and the owner is unknown. However, several members of the public have told the RSPCA they had previously seen the dog straying in the community.

Inspector Whalley said: “It was a very upsetting sight to see a dog who was clearly in a great deal of discomfort and had not been receiving anything like the appropriate level of care and support for a long time. 

“The tumour had grown to such a size that you could actually see inside the cavity of her stomach, and the vet said it would have taken months, if not a year, to have got like that.

“We think the most likely explanation is that she has sadly been abandoned, and we’ve been told she had also been seen out and about on her own in the past.

“The condition she was found in is a cause for huge concern and we’d urge anyone who recognises her or has first-hand information about who she belonged to, to contact us.”   

 

 

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA’s inspectorate appeal line, in confidence, on 0300 123 8018 quoting reference number 01139780.