Animals in Christmas jumpers are always a joy, whether they’re cows or chickens.
But sometimes a festive knit is doing more than just maximising an animal’s cuteness.
Two balding lurcher puppies, Holly and Ivy, were found dumped at a roadside in Surrey along with their mum, Mistletoe.
The dogs were freezing cold, infested with parasites, and needed urgent care.
They were taken into Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey, where part of their treatment included wearing specially-made Christmas jumpers to keep them warm and cosy after the loss of their fur made them more likely to feel the chill.
The pups had mange, caused by tiny, microscopic mites that burrow beneath the skin surface and lay eggs, which made them scratch and bite at their skin, causing pain, irritation, and hair loss.
As well as keeping them nice and cosy, the jumpers also help to prevent the dogs from scratching at their skin.
Liz Wood, deputy manager of Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey, said: ‘These poor little dogs were dumped beside the road like rubbish, it’s disgusting.
‘They’ve got a really bad case of mange and are practically bald which means they’d have been even more vulnerable to the cold and rain.
‘Thankfully, someone spotted them and asked us for help and we were able to get them into our warm, dry kennels quickly.
‘They’ll now stay with us over the Christmas period while we nurse them back to full health.
Mum Mistletoe is doing well but the pups have still got a long way to go and it will take some time for their coats to grow back.
‘Poor Holly and Ivy have lost a lot of their fur so we’re having to keep them snug and warm in special Christmas jumpers.’
Holly and Ivy won’t be ready for adoption until the New Year, as they require further treatment before they can be placed into loving homes.
The shelter is asking for donations in the meantime to cover the cost of care for these pups and all the other animals the RSPCA looks after.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/11/balding-puppies-nursed-back-health-specially-made-christmas-jumpers-11653195/
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