united kingdom – My Cocker Spaniel

Cage dryer kills cocker spaniel

Wigston, Leicester, UK

It is basically a metal dog crate with a hot air blaster wedged in the front. Three sides of the crate are then covered by a thin blanket and hot air is blasted in to dry the dog, said Sally Kearns, RSPCA inspector.

Maureece Sarell had no idea her cocker spaniel’s trip to the groomer would be her last. Sarell dropped Trudie off at Yensid Dog Grooming owned by Jo Taylor on the morning of October 6, 2011. Sarell received a call from Taylor around 11:00am saying Trudie got a bit “pink” on her belly and needed a veterinarian. Sarell arrived at the vet an hour later only to find Trudie’s condition horribly worse. Trudie had suffered severe burns to her belly and feet, and internal bleeding. “She was black and blue and I have seen a lot of things in my life as a nurse but that was one of the worst things I have ever seen.”

Veterinarian Emma Drabble said, “Her skin had started to peel and blister and when we took a blood sample it showed she was dehydrated…her temperature reduced to normal after a couple of hours but the internal bleeding continued.” It was around 5:15pm when Sarell and the veterinarian agreed to end Trudie’s suffering and put her to sleep.

Taylor testified she only left Trudie in the cage dryer for 20 minutes. She also added the cage dryer is popular among other pet groomers. On April 16, 2012, Taylor was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal but found guilty of failing in duty to care. Taylor was given 1 year probation and ordered to pay $560 dollars in court costs. Judge Peter Tyler said, “We find it difficult to accept the evidence that the dog, Trudie, was checked every few minutes…the injuries were caused during the drying process. You failed in your duty to keep her from harm.” After the trial Sarell said, “I can’t believe she is still allowed to groom dogs.”

Veterinarian reprimanded in cocker spaniel case

Peter MacMahon, a British veterinarian in Hampshire, was reprimanded and warned by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for “disgraceful” conduct. The case involved a cocker spaniel named Wilfred who had swallowed broken glass. The RCVS found MacMahon had failed to remove the broken glass; had failed to prevent abdominal contamination; and failed to make Wilfred’s primary veterinarian aware of the contamination. MacMahon’s competence was called into question. MacMahon had recently returned to practice after a ten-year absence. MacMahon agreed to take remedial training as suggested by the RCVS.

On July 15, 2009, Mrs. Sarah Stacey brought her one-year-old cocker spaniel named Wilfred to the Harbour Veterinary Hospital in Portsmouth, England. Wilfred had eaten broken glass and meat while rummaging through kitchen garbage. Veterinarian Peter MacMahon was covering the hospital’s busy after hours emergency service. Dr. MacMahon and his nurse were apparently unfamiliar with the facility because they had difficulty finding necessary supplies and equipment during Wilfred’s surgery.

During surgery, Dr. MacMahon did not wear sterile gloves and allowed nearly a liter of stomach contents to escape into Wilfred’s abdominal cavity. The next morning following surgery Wilfred was brought back to the hospital very ill. Veterinarian Kathryn Ling decided to operate on Wilfred again. Upon opening Wilfred’s abdomen, Dr. Ling was “struck with a terrible smell of putrefaction.” She found three tablespoons of minced meat in his abdomen. She also found a large piece of glass still in Wilfred’s stomach. Dr. Ling’s surgery was successful and Wilfred made a full recovery.

Cocker spaniel pups found in parking lot die

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is looking for information on a cocker spaniel and her pups left in the parking lot of Roy’s department store in Wroxham, U.K. A concerned citizen gathered Tilly and her three pups taking them to Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

Unfortunately, the pups were all suffering from parvovirus. Despite veterinarian treatment, all three died. Tilly, the pups’ mother, was also found in poor condition however recovered with the care of vigilant staff.

The only clues the RSPCA have so far are the leather dog bed they were found in along with a men’s Marks & Spencer three quarter length coat and a red fleece pet blanket. If you have any information about the abandoned dogs call the RSPCA at 0300 1234999.

Cocker receives PAT Dog of the Year

An English cocker spaniel named Muppet has received the Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dog of the Year. Nominations for Muppet poured in from Royal United Hospital’s children’s ward. Muppet and her owner Leisl De Lafontaine have been volunteering at the children’s ward for five years. They touched many hearts including that of a terminally ill girl named Emily who died later this year. Ms De Lafontaine said, “After she transferred to Bristol hospital I really got to see her come out of her shell. She loved Muppet dearly. Her parents even came to Crufts to see Muppet get her award, which was really lovely. Her dad sent me a text saying: ‘We are here and we are totally overwhelmed.'”

Pets As Therapy is national organization providing therapy dogs and cats to facilities such as hospice and special needs schools throughout the United Kingdom. The organization also conducts research in the advancement of pet therapy.