PREVIEW

A puppy that was found starved, surrounded by excrement, behind a block of flats, is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to a loving couple from Kent, England.

Maggie was just six months old when RSPCA officers rescued her and her siblings from what the charity described as awful conditions. The dogs were found living in a cramped, dirty yard with no food and no water other than a dripping drain.

When she arrived at the RSPCA’s Block Fen Animal Centre in Cambridgeshire, Maggie was very underweight and terrified of everything and everyone. She has since been adopted by Cassie and her wife Gill, and is now enjoying life as a happy, pampered pet.

Maggie’s story began in a squalid communal courtyard behind a block of flats. RSPCA officers, accompanied by police, found the puppies emaciated and frightened.

“When I saw the photos of the conditions Maggie and her siblings had been left in, it broke my heart,” said Cassie.

“They looked so sad and they were all incredibly skinny, with their ribs sticking out, just existing in a dirty courtyard surrounded by dog poo.
“It was no life for them. There was no food, no shelter, no clean water - the only water they had came from the gutter and dirty puddles.”

In one photograph taken at the scene, a puppy believed to be Maggie can be seen desperately drinking from a dirty drain, her ribs clearly visible.

The puppies and their mother were taken to Block Fen Animal Centre, where they slowly began to recover. It was there that Cassie and Gill first met Maggie, after staff contacted Cassie knowing her fondness for bull breeds.

The couple are experienced rescue dog owners and have given five dogs a second chance over the years. Cassie also works as Director of Operations at the RSPCA, overseeing frontline rescue teams, and said she understood how vital adoption was.

When they met Maggie, they said they immediately felt she was special.

“There were no second thoughts for us,” said Cassie. “It was love at first sight. She was shy and a bit unsure, but her gentleness just shone through. We knew right away she was the one.”
Before Maggie was ready for rehoming, staff spent months helping her recover from her traumatic start in life.

Sally Jones, centre manager at Block Fen, said: “Everything was new and scary to Maggie, and we knew we had to start small by building a bond and allowing her to feel that she was finally safe. Thankfully, she turned out to be a bit of a foodie, and we were able to win her round with chicken and cheese - and once we had that initial bond we could gradually build on it, taking everything at her pace.

“I took her on as a foster before she was rehomed, and that really helped her to get to grips with what life in a home would be like - everyday things like the washing machine and TV were alien to her, but seeing how my dogs weren’t scared by those things helped her.

“The world she’d come from had been so small and inappropriate, she hadn’t experienced life like other dogs know it - the sights, the sounds, the smells. Simple things like the feel and smell of grass were scary to her - she’d only ever known dirty concrete.

“Behaviour is complex and difficult for us to manage in terms of rehab, but it’s so important to get it right and follow the dog’s lead to give them the tools they need to thrive in a new home - patience is key.”

Bringing Maggie home to rural Kent marked the start of another testing phase.

“The two-hour drive was quiet. When we got home we had imagined she’d bounce out of the car and we’d start our new life together, but she refused to leave the car,” Cassie said.“That became her safe space for weeks.”

Food, reassurance and time were needed to help Maggie adjust, but progress was slow.

“For months, she wouldn’t go past the driveway,” Cassie added. “The sound of cars terrified her.”
The couple eventually helped Maggie rebuild her confidence by walking her with calm, steady dogs belonging to friends.

“She watched the other dogs walking, and you could almost see her thinking, ‘OK, this must be safe’,” said Cassie. “That changed everything.”
Gradually, Maggie began walking confidently along country lanes and enjoying everyday life. Small milestones were celebrated, from greeting visitors to jumping out of the car willingly.

“With each achievement we just fell more in love with her,” said Cassie. “She was clearly so affected by her sad, traumatic start in life, but watching her learn to trust us and love us the way we loved her was incredible.”

A holiday to Wales proved to be another major breakthrough.

“But she completely surpassed our expectations. We went walking in the mountains, around waterfalls - it was amazing. Seeing her running free, happy and fearless, was just pure joy.”
Now settled and confident, Maggie’s playful personality shines through, from zooming around the garden to cheekily stealing pears.

“Bull breeds often have a bad reputation, but Maggie is the sweetest soul,” Cassie said. “She’s brilliant with kids and other dogs. She just loves everyone.”

“She’s got this cheeky sparkle,” she added. “Given her start in life, the love she gives back is incredible. And knowing she feels safe and loved with us, her new family, is the most amazing feeling.”

Cassie said Maggie symbolised the impact of the RSPCA’s work.

“Maggie really is the embodiment of the work the RSPCA does and the incredible frontline teams I lead - the officers, the hospital teams, the centre staff, the behaviourists and volunteers who help animals rebuild their lives after suffering heartbreaking cruelty and neglect,” she said.

“Every time I look at Maggie I see the dedication, care and compassion of the people who saved her.”

Sally Jones said Maggie’s transformation had been remarkable, but warned that RSPCA centres were under growing strain.

“Sadly RSPCA centres across England and Wales are full with rescue animals and at the moment we simply cannot keep up with demand,” she said. “Our teams are working incredibly hard, under immense pressure, to protect the welfare of every animal in our care - but animals are facing shocking levels of neglect and abandonment right now.

“Our emergency teams are under real pressure - but we'll keep being there for animals experiencing the worst cruelty and neglect. That’s why The Big Give Back to Animals is raising funds for our officers on the frontline.”