Yahoo News Heartbreaking ending as 'gentle giant' Badger put to sleep months after rescue from 15ft hole
It’s a heartbreaking end to a miraculous tale that saw a dog rescued from a 15-ft deep hole.
“Gentle giant” Badger was found at the bottom of a waterlogged concrete shaft in Stockton on Friday, April 12. But the RSPCA and Dog’s Trust has now confirmed that the black and white Caucasian Shepherd was put to sleep on Monday.
“This is a devastating outcome for everyone involved but Badger’s welfare had to come first," a spokesperson said. Badger was found to have multiple malformed joints, causing him significant pain and causing mobility problems.
The charity said that all options were carefully considered, including specialist surgery - but “regretfully it was felt this would not result in an acceptable ongoing quality of life for Badger”. Badger captured the hearts of Teessiders when he was "miraculously" found in a hole and rescued by RSPCA officers, firefighters and a passing dog walker.
The large male dog, believed to be under a year old, was found by a complete fluke, when a man was walking his dogs for the first time on a local wasteland known as Phoenix Sidings, in Stockton . He noticed that the lid of a large hole in the ground was partially open and upon inspection, he discovered an animal stuck at the bottom of the pit.
He was wearing a leather studded collar and is microchipped, but with no address registered to the device, his owner could not be traced. Vets believe he may have been trapped down the hole for up to a week, surviving by drinking the dirty water he was trapped in, which left his skin blistered.
Badger was rescued and rehabilitated at Jacqui Paterson Vets in Stockton. A fundraising page set up by the RSPCA to help pay for Badger's care raised over £5,000.
A comment from Jacqui Paterson Vets on social media read: “We are all very upset here at JP vets. We have learnt this evening that he has been put to sleep. He was no longer in our care so unfortunately cannot comment further at the moment. We too are in shock”.
The Dog's Trust and RSPCA provided a joint statement to Teesside Live regarding the death of Badger. A spokesperson said: "Everyone involved in Badger’s rescue and care wanted a happy ending for him.
"We are devastated and heartbroken that a specialist veterinary investigation revealed he had multiple malformed joints, causing him significant pain and causing mobility problems. After extensive assessments and tests, veterinary experts agreed the kindest thing for Badger was to be put to sleep so he didn’t face a life of pain and suffering.
"All options were carefully considered, including specialist surgery - but regretfully it was felt this would not result in an acceptable ongoing quality of life for Badger. We would like to thank everyone involved in Badger’s rescue and care, particularly the vet team who cared so attentively for him. This is a devastating outcome for everyone involved but Badger’s welfare had to come first."
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