'Skeletal' dog found living in squalor in poo-covered flat as RSPCA called in

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


An emaciated dog has been rescued after being found living in squalid conditions inside a flat. The alarm was raised after neighbours spotted the 'skeletal' pup through the window of the Kidsgrove home where the floor was 'covered in faeces'.

Renamed ‘Angel’ by her rescuers, the dog’s spine and and ribs were clearly visible. And a disturbing video appears to show the flat covered in detritus, litter and poo.

There were fears that Angel could be put down if no-one came forward to claim her within 14 days but the RSPCA has reassured StokeonTrentLive readers that they would never put a healthy dog to sleep.

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Nikki Swift, 39, was among those who found the dog after being alerted by a friend living in the building on Saturday (September 21). “The dog was a skeleton,” she said.

Mika, renamed 'Angel' by her rescuers, was "a skeleton" when she was found
Mika, renamed 'Angel' by her rescuers, was "a skeleton" when she was found

Nikki and her friend managed to get the kitchen window open enough to throw some dog biscuits through while they waited 50 minutes for the landlord to arrive and open up. She said: “Once I was able to stand on the wheelie bins and could actually see into the house, I stopped throwing the kibble through because I realised she was eating off faeces.”

After the landlord opened the door, Nikki and two others fed the dog and gave her water. “She’s an absolute sweetheart,” she said. “As soon as we got her out she just wanted to nuzzle into me and be reassured. There was no nastiness in her.”

“She had tried to eat almost everything in that flat. She had chewed on everything to see if it was edible.”

Nikki and her friend immediately decided to change the dog’s name from Mika to Angel, and she spent that night being cared for by Nikki’s friend. “She deserved a new name, because that had connotations with what she had been through,” Nikki said.

Nikki had called the RSPCA while the group were stuck outside the flat. She said: “The RSPCA came around the next day and said they were looking to press charges, and that it was a definite case of neglect, but that they needed veterinary evidence to say how long it would have taken for a healthy dog to get that way, so they would take the dog.”

The day after, two notices were posted to the front door of the flat. Nikki added: “They wanted to get in touch with the owner to see if he wants his dog back or not, and that if they hadn’t got in touch within 14 days they would dispose of the animal.”

Mika, renamed 'Angel' by her rescuers, following her rescue
Mika, renamed 'Angel' by her rescuers, following her rescue

The RSPCA told StokeonTrentLive that ‘disposed’ is legal term that they must use and that they would never put a healthy, re-homable animal down.

Nikki added: “Everyone assumed he had taken the dog with him because no-one had heard her for weeks. That little bark was the last little bit of energy she had.”

StokeonTrentLive has been unable to make contact with the owner of the dog.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We’re unable to comment when investigations are ongoing. We understand how frustrating that is for animal lovers but releasing information could prejudice investigations or could lead to us being fined.”

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