Rescued dog is given a second chance at life

So shut down from human interaction, and having been starved of love and attention, she was facing the very real threat of euthanasia.

Thankfully, this stricken pooch has been saved from the depths of despair and has now been offered a road to recovery and a chance to live a happy life, after Alnwick-based dog sanctuary SHAK stepped in to help.

Her rehabilitation won’t be easy, but the charity’s founder Stephen Wylie says he had no doubts about rescuing ‘this special case’.

And having arrived in Northumberland last week, Indi – as the SHAK team has called her – has made some progress; positive steps which might seem small on the surface, but are huge for a dog like her.

Stephen said: “I was approached about six weeks ago by one of our contacts, asking if I could help a dog in Romania.

“She was so thin and weak and her future looked very glum. She was so shut down from what I’ve seen – she didn’t show any interest in interacting with humans, because she was simply so terrified.

“She really is a big rescue. I was asked to give her a name as she didn’t even have the dignity of being called anything, so I decided on Indi.

“I think though it is important to state that this is a very special case and we are not in a position to start importing dogs from abroad.”

Indi arrived in the UK on Friday and then headed to Northumberland – giving the team the chance to see the extent of the physical and mental torture that she had been exposed to.

Stephen said: “I’m delighted to say that Indi arrived safely and apart from being absolutely terrified, I got her home without major issue.

“Getting her from one vehicle to another was a little tricky, as soon as a lead went on she started thrashing around like a wild animal, but with patience we got there.

“It is also important to say even when being so distressed, she didn’t bite, when there was every opportunity to do so.

“She seemed relieved to see other dogs who had come down for the ride, so it’s clear she feels safer around other dogs.

“Once home, and seeing her stand, it exposed the true horror of her former life – her mammary glands are so big she’s clearly had litter after litter after litter.

“Getting her into a kennel was another episode of thrashing on the lead and when I was checking on her before bedtime she was still in her corner, but she’d ate.

“The morning after, it looked like she hadn’t moved and was still stuck facing the wall, but the hair on her bed and ruffled blankets showed otherwise.”

And on Sunday, in what Stephen described as an amazing moment, Indi trusted him enough to let him cuddle her. He said: “It maybe the first time in her life someone has had the opportunity to get this close.”

And on Monday, she seemed to enjoy her first walk in the countryside. He said: “She enjoyed the view and smells. I honestly think that this was Indi’s first ever walk – I don’t think she has ever been out on a walk with somebody. She was amazing and is beginning to respond to her name.

“She has a long way to go and this is going to be a real hard slog, but I know we can get her there.”