Emaciated dog fully recovered, now looking for a home
Hugo was just skin and bones when he was rescued.
While he’s back to full health now, Hugo has been waiting for more than a year for a new home.
The Rhodesian ridgeback was dumped in Muswellbrook in April last year, and RSPCA Inspector Russell Jarman said at the time RSPCA staff were shocked by the dog’s condition.
“Poor Hugo was just a skeleton when we first took him into our care,” he said.
“Unfortunately you get pretty used to seeing animal cruelty in this job, but Hugo’s condition was really horrifying.”
Found weighing just 16.9 kilograms according to news reports at the time, two-year-old Hugo has fully recovered now.
However, RSPCA NSW Sydney Shelter manager Donna Hough said the dog’s prolonged stay in the shelter has not been good.
“It’s heartbreaking for staff to see a beautiful dog like Hugo have to wait so long for someone to fall in love with him,” she said.
“And to see him start to not cope while he waits for over a year, it’s just horrible.”
Hugo’s adoption profile says he needs to be the only dog in the house, but he loves toys and is very affectionate.
“We’re all rooting for Hugo to find his new forever family as soon as possible,” Ms Hough said.
“He really deserves to be loved and spoilt, especially after such a hard start to his young life.”