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RSPCA's 'thinnest dog' ready for forever home

Emma Baugh & Helen Burchell
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Emma Baugh/BBC A lurcher is sitting in a kennel at a rescue centre. She has beige fur and a darker brown face and ears. She is wearing a red collar and is sitting on a fluffy blanket surrounded by toysEmma Baugh/BBC
Peanut has come on leaps and bounds since she was dubbed the "thinnest dog" by rescuers

A dog described as the "thinnest" RSPCA inspectors had ever seen is ready to be rehomed after being nursed back to health.

Peanut, a three-year-old lurcher weighed just 12kg (26.5lb) - about half the weight she should have been - when she was rescued on New Year's Day after being found in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, and taken to the RSPCA's centre at Block Fen in Cambridgeshire.

Collapsed and close to death after being abandoned on a country lane, Peanut won the hearts of her carers and others who read about her plight.

Now weighing a healthier 19kg (42lb), the charity said Peanut would be ready for rehoming later this week.

Warning: This story contains images which may be upsetting

When Peanut's story was first told, the RSPCA said it was "inundated with phone calls, emails and Facebook messages" from people wanting to help the dog.

The lurcher had pressure sores on her legs and had been visibly starved.

Images of her were disturbing and the charity admitted Peanut had "a long way to go" before they could consider finding a new home for the dog.

RSPCA Peanut the lurcher lying on a fluffy blanket which has red, blue, yellow, pink, purple and green circular spots on it. She is very thin. Her bones cannot be seen as she is wearing a pink jumper over the middle of her body. She has a purple wrap around her back leg and is curled up inside a metal crate.RSPCA
The animal centre said there had been huge interest in rehoming Peanut but they had to make sure she was healthy first

Speaking after Peanut had received much care and treatment, Tiffany Saunders, kennel supervisor at the Block Fen centre in Wimblington, said if Peanut had been out for one more cold night "she probably would have been dead".

"I would say she's probably never experienced a very nice life," Ms Saunders said.

"She's probably lived this way for a long time - probably her whole life."

RSPCA Peanut the rescued lurcher standing up. All the bones in her ribs, back and legs can be seen through her fur, which is a light shade of brown and white, but is only thin. She has a camouflage-style wrapping on her back legs and looks frightened. The bent leg of the handler who is kneeling next to Peanut can also be seen. They have got their hand on Peanut's back. RSPCA
Peanut was "incredibly emaciated" when she was found in Bedfordshire

The RSPCA said about 2,000 animals were reported as abandoned in January, one-third more than the previous year's statistics.

Nicola Walker, from the RSPCA, said the charity had seen "the perfect storm" created by both the rise in the cost of living and the coronavirus pandemic.

However, Peanut should be ready for her forever home later this week and will be advertised as such by the RSPCA's Block Fen centre.

Emma Baugh/BBC Tiffany Saunders has long auburn hair which is tied back. She is wearing a navy blue top and trousers and is holding a small dog in one arm and Peanut with the other. They are in a metal kennel surrounded by toysEmma Baugh/BBC
Tiffany Saunders, pictured here with Peanut (left) and the lurcher's new friend Bailey, said the lurcher had probably never known love

Ms Saunders added: "This is brilliant - it's what we're here for, so to help with cases like Peanut is so rewarding.

"It is not just Peanut's physical stature that has changed - her behaviour and mannerisms have noticeably changed she's gone from a really scared, shut-down dog to a really cheeky, loving and friendly girl.

"This has been really lovely to watch."

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