THE rescue of a dog who suffered horrendous injuries consistent with badger baiting has been named one of the RSPCA’s top 10 most memorable rescues of the last 12 months.
Images of Patterdale Terrier Fig’s injuries shocked readers after he was found by a member of the public in Hay-on-Wye in October.
The injuries were described by an RSPCA inspector as the worst he had seen for 20 years.
It was suspected that someone would have set Fig onto a badger – which sadly would have also likely experienced serious injuries.
Badger baiting is where a dog is sent into a sett to flush out the badger and attack it for the handler to then dig the badger out and kill it or take it away for it to be killed at a later date.
Thankfully, his condition has since improved and the charity says he moved into his new ‘forever home’ in timefor Christmas.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “It was a story that broke all our hearts when Fig was found with horrendous injuries back in October.
“Fig was found by members of the public after straying into a yard at Painscastle, Powys.
“He had gruesome injuries to his mouth, jaw and lips – which were consistent with badger baiting. Thankfully following a lot of TLC at RSPCA’s Newport Animal Centre, Fig’s condition improved and recently found his forever home in time for Christmas. We just love a happy ending.”
Other animal rescues included a 100-foot abseil to get a sheep from a cliff at Llandudno, a scorpion found in a house in Denbigh, and acat who was returned to its home in Swansea after an eight-year absence.
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