Emaciated dog back to full health and looking for a home

An abandoned and emaciated dog that was dumped by his owners at a NSW pound is now fighting fit and ready to find a new home.

One year has passed since Hugo, a Rhodesian ridgeback, was dumped at the Muswellbrook pound with his rib cage clearly visible beneath his skin.

“Poor Hugo was just a skeleton when we first took him into our care,” RSPCA NSW Inspector Russell Jarman said.

“Unfortunately you get pretty used to seeing animal cruelty in this job, but Hugo’s condition was really horrifying.”

Hugo’s ribs were clearly visible beneath his skin when he was abandoned. Source: RSPCA NSW
Hugo’s ribs were clearly visible beneath his skin when he was abandoned. Source: RSPCA NSW
The young pup was emaciated when he was dumped at a NSW pound. Source: RSPCA NSW
The young pup was emaciated when he was dumped at a NSW pound. Source: RSPCA NSW

Fast forward 13 months and Hugo has made a full recovery but is still waiting in the shelter for a family to take him home.

RSPCA NSW said Hugo hasn’t been coping with the long wait in the shelter environment and has gone into foster care as he waits for a new owner.

Hugo is now back to full health and looking for a home. Source: RSPCA NSW
Hugo is now back to full health and looking for a home. Source: RSPCA NSW

“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. And to see him start to not cope while he waits for over a year, it’s just horrible,” RSPCA NSW Sydney shelter manager Donna Hough said.

If you would like more information, you can check out Hugo’s full adoption profile or contact the Sydney Shelter on (02) 9770 7575.