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Inky Wins Best Rescue Pet at Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards

By: Author Grace Sydney

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DogTipper continues a series on The Burgess/Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards, a star-studded presentation at London’s Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel which annually celebrates small and medium-sized rescue organizations.

DJ Neil “Foxy” Fox, who helps London area listeners start each weekday off with a smile with his breakfast broadcast on Magic 105.4, no doubt brought tears to the eyes of attendees at the Burgess Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards as he joined TV presenter Matthew Wright in presenting the title of Best Rescue Pet to Inky, a young Shar Pei whose heart-breaking beginning has now led to a happily ever after with his new pet parent, Adam McCreevy.

The tale of Inky’s rescue, as told by Wetnose Animal Aid:

On the coldest day of the year in February 2012, a family found an abandoned puppy lying lifeless in a gutter. The nine-week-old Shar Pei was close to death, but refused to give up and survived against all odds.

He was rushed to the nearest veterinary practice where a team of vets and nurses sprang into action to try and save his life. He was emaciated, dehydrated and hypothermic. All his veins had collapsed, which made it difficult to administer much needed fluids. He was so weak that he lay flat on his side and couldn’t even lift his head but, as they tried to gently warm him up, his little tail wagged a little as though he knew they were trying to help him.

It was touch and go as to whether he would survive the night. Staff at the veterinary practice decided to name him “Inky” as no animal should die unwanted, without an identity.

Thankfully Inky survived the night and continued to become stronger and stronger over the next few days. His appetite grew and he gradually put on weight, but Inky wasn’t out of the woods yet. Once he was strong enough to stand and walk around it was discovered that both of his front legs were badly deformed due to malnutrition. The bones had grown slowly and incorrectly as he had been half starved at such a crucial growing stage in his life.

He was fostered by a member of staff who nurtured him back to health while following all of the vet’s advice on helping his legs. He was given physiotherapy every day, but it didn’t help and so he had to endure weeks of wearing splints on both legs. Inky took to his splints well and was patient and behaved every time they were changed.Inky was then blessed with finding a wonderful, loving home where he was to be spoilt rotten and, after weeks of wearing his splints, he was finally given the all clear.

Inky truly is an inspiration – a happy and healthy puppy despite being given such a horrible start to life by his previous owners.

The Burgess Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards

The Burgess Wetnose Animal Rescue Awards presentation is made possible by Andrea and Gavin Gamby-Boulger, the founders of Wetnose Animal Aid, which has provided both financial and information-based support to animal welfare organizations since 2006.

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Photos courtesy Wetnose Animal Aid

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