PREVIEW

A three-legged dog named Peggy, rescued by the RSPCA and now adopted, chews the legs off her teddies to make them look just like her.

Peggy, a five-year-old Dutch Shepherd, was discovered by a passerby in a field in 2021 with a severely injured back leg. It’s uncertain if she was hit by a vehicle, caught in a trap, or injured by another animal. After being found, Peggy was taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where vets provided round-the-clock care.

Peggy’s microchip showed she had passed between a few owners, and sadly, her last owner could not be located. Because Peggy’s energy levels made it difficult to keep her still enough for her leg to heal, the vets made the decision to amputate it, knowing this would be in her best interests.

After a smooth recovery, Peggy was transferred to the RSPCA Preston & District Branch, where she met her new owner, Bonnie, from Manchester, who says she “fell in love” with the lively Dutch Shepherd.

“She just looked like a friendly and bouncy dog, and we knew we wanted a bigger dog as I’d grown up with Collies,” Bonnie shared. “She was the second one we looked at, and I’m so glad we ended up with Peggy. She’s energetic and curious and has fit right in!”

Since her adoption, Peggy has become known for her quirky habits, including “stealing scarves, cushions, and kids' toys whenever we visit friends or family,” says Bonnie. However, her favourite item is a large unicorn teddy, which she loves carrying around. “She picked up the unicorn one day while we were on a walk, and it said, ‘free to a good home’. She carried it all the way back!”

Tanya Barrett from the RSPCA Preston & District Branch remembers Peggy fondly, saying, “She’s been one of my most memorable dogs in the four years I’ve worked here. She was always smiley, even after her amputation. The best part of my job is seeing dogs like Peggy go on to find amazing forever homes, and I’m thrilled she’s found Bonnie.”

Peggy’s story comes as the RSPCA reveals a worsening rehoming crisis. New figures show that 42% more animals came into RSPCA shelters in 2023 than were adopted, leaving many pets waiting for homes. The charity’s rehoming centres across England and Wales are nearing capacity, and many animals still wait in emergency boarding for a place at a rehoming centre.

To combat the issue, the RSPCA is launching its annual ‘Adoptober’ campaign, encouraging people to adopt pets like Peggy. As it marks 200 years, the charity is calling on the public to help ease this crisis by adopting.

Last year, the RSPCA rehomed over 28,000 pets but saw 40,000 new arrivals, highlighting the urgent need for more adopters. As Adoptober begins, the RSPCA is hoping many more rescue animals will find their forever homes, just like Peggy.