After experiencing neglect, Maddie the French bulldog had completely shut down and feared people, but a dose of love – along with the right vet treatment – transformed this scared little dog into a little love bug.
Maddie was removed from her previous owner as part of a prosecution case by the local authority. She arrived underweight, suffering with chronic eye conditions in both her eyes and various other medical issues. She was terrified of people, to the point where she was almost completely shut down.
She spent over a year with us as the case proceeded, during which time she received complex treatment for her painful eye conditions, as well as support from our behaviour team to learn to trust people and once signed over she had an operation to remove one of her eyes. Following much-needed care and rehabilitation with us, she’s doing so much better – she’s even starting to enjoy cuddles!
“Maddie was very scared and confused when she first arrived here and it took a long time for her to be able to trust people,” said her carer Rachel. “Once she had received treatment for her medical issues and started to feel safe around us, she came out of her shell. She didn’t cope very well in kennels, so she started spending quite a lot of time with our reception team in the office during the day, and that’s when we started seeing her quirky personality come to life. She is now very playful and can be quite the diva when she wants to be!”.
“She particularly enjoys climbing in and out of recycling boxes and throwing things around, which the team find funny. She just loves being the centre of attention!”
A growing problem
Maddie is just one of many animals we see who arrive at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre with significant medical issues.
“Many pets are going without urgent medical care, particularly during the cost of living crisis and unfortunately we are picking up the pieces,” explained Jodie Hayward, Animal Home Manager at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre.
“More animals are coming into our care with complex needs, and fewer people want to adopt them. We need support to give more of them a second chance at a happy life,” she added.
We’re here to make sure that no animal gets left behind, but we’re up against a challenge. Nationally, animal intake is up 8.4%* as pet owners struggle to afford their pets’ care during the cost of living crisis.
We’re seeing an increase in pets arriving with untreated medical conditions, which means they’re staying longer too – the average stay for a dog is up from 85 days to 93 days. Not only that, but there are fewer people willing to adopt, particularly dogs like Maddie with complex needs.
Dogs like Maddie need time, patience and care. We wouldn’t be able to provide that without our kind supporters. By giving what you can, you’re helping to ensure dogs like Maddie get a second chance at a happy life.
Please donate to our Spring Appeal to help more vulnerable animals like Maddie.
A home for Maddie
As well as seeking donations to our Spring Appeal, we will also soon be looking for a new Maddie. She would like a home with a loving, patient owner who has a lot of time to spend with her – ideally someone who has a predictable routine. Preferably she needs to live with someone who has no intention of moving, so Maddie can get to know her surroundings and get used to the home she will live in for the rest of her life. Once she’s settled in, she will eventually need her other eye removed, but our behaviourists and vets have agreed that this shouldn’t impact her quality of life too much, provided she is settled in a routine and knows her new house well by then.
Watch Maddie’s story
