Mayhew helped Lilly to recover and gain confidence.
A dog rescued from Brent canal in London has found her forever home after her traumatic ordeal.
Lilly, a poodle crossbreed, estimated to be around eight years old, was spotted by passers-by in June. After retrieving Lilly from the canal, the passers-by brought her to animal charity Mayhew, where she could receive the care she needed.
Mayhew head of kennels, dog adoptions and fostering, Merryn Walker, said: “Lilly is one of those horror stories you read about. We were so shocked by her condition when she came into Mayhew after being rescued from the canal.
“She was covered in putrid, muddy canal water and was understandably very nervous and traumatised by her experience.”
The veterinary team at Mayhew spayed, vaccinated and microchipped Lilly, and also scaled and polished her teeth. It was decided that foster care would be necessary for Lilly's treatment, giving her a safe and peaceful environment to gain confidence.
Merryn continued: “We won’t ever know whether she ended up in the canal by accident or if she was thrown into the water. Either way, it was only thanks to the quick-thinking individuals who spotted her and contacted Mayhew that Lilly is alive today.
“The foster carer really helped re-build Lilly’s confidence so the sweet dog that was always there could come back to life again.”
Following the care and support from Mayhew and Lilly's foster carer, the sweet dog was soon able to be adopted, and Harrow resident Jessica Etherington knew that Lilly was the dog for her.
Jessica said: “When I saw Lilly's profile on the website it was love at first sight. She sounded like a loving and affectionate dog and my partner and I knew that we could give her the quiet and caring home that she deserved.
“When we heard about Lilly's background, we couldn't believe the sweet and sociable dog that we met at Mayhew's foster carer’s home had been through something so shocking. It's amazing how Mayhew and her foster carer have helped her to trust and grow in confidence.
“She is such a joy to have with us and makes us smile every day. She seems more confident all the time as she gets to know us and the area more, and she's already queen of the sofa in our house!
"We love her so much and we're so proud to be giving her a forever home.”
Image (C) Mayhew
RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.
