Homes plea for three-legged dogs

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Unprecedented numbers of three-legged dogs are in desperate need of loving homes across Scotland, according to animal welfare charities.

Better veterinary techniques mean that more dogs than ever are surviving traumatic amputations after accidents.

Many dogs who lost a limb may had in the past been put down but advances in surgery, anaesthetics and infection control have saved their lives.

Experts said a three-legged dog could cope as well as one with four legs.

The Scottish SPCA's dog and cat home in Cardonald, Glasgow, currently has three dogs who have a leg missing who is wants to rehome.

The picture is reported to be the same across the country.

Officials said that some owners still turn canine amputees out in favour of new pets.

People have got to stop thinking 'four legs good, three legs bad' Anna O'DonnellGlasgow Dog and Cat Home

In a recent case, a young three-legged mongrel bitch called Keisha was dumped in the reception area of the Cardonald dog home by a man who said the animal's owner could no longer look after her.

He fled when asked to bring in a form signed by the owner, releasing the dog for adoption.

As a result, Keisha has been treated by the shelter as a stray and will be available for re-homing in a few days.

Anna O'Donnell, assistant manager of the Glasgow Dog and Cat Home, said: "Keisha was dumped in front reception by this guy who then just drove off.

"She's a sweet wee tan-coloured bitch. The surgery that's been done on her leg has been done only about six weeks ago.

"She's either been in a road traffic accident or she's had a problem with her limb and it's had to be removed.

"So she's gone through all this surgery and now ended up abandoned. We've got three three-legged dogs here at the moment.

New start

"Another of them was found wandering on the railway line just behind us. We think somebody might actually have dumped it on the line.

"Clearly it could have been killed."

Easter is traditionally a busy time for animal shelters, as owners who have bought pets for Christmas, against all advice, dump them on the streets when they realise they are getting in the way of their holidays.

Officials from the Scottish SPCA are hoping they can quickly re-home Keisha and the other two three-legged friends they have at present - a year-old Dobermann bitch Kim, and eight-year-old mongrel Pod, the dog found on the railway - to make room for new arrivals.

Ms O'Donnell said: "At one time the three-legged dog used to get the sympathy vote.

"People would come in and take them and we'd home them on pretty quickly. They had a rarity value.

"But now through advances in surgery, better anaesthetics and better infection control, there are so many of them surviving when at one time they'd have been put to sleep.

"We've got so many in the centres that we struggle to re-home them. The tragedy is that a dog will manage absolutely fine on three legs.

"They get along on three legs as well as get along on four legs. People have got to stop thinking 'four legs good, three legs bad'."

SSPCA communications manager Doreen Graham said: "These dogs have already suffered so much. They really deserve a new start."