Furless and friendless: Flaky the puppy who was tied to a fence and left to die

By Daily Mail Reporter


Sore: Flaky has a bad conditions of demodectic mange, which can be cured with months of bathing using special soothing shampoos


Sometimes all a puppy needs is a quick bath to get his fur shining again but Flaky is going to need months of careful attention from a loving new owner to nurse him back to health.

The six-month old the Staffordshire bull terrier has a skin condition so severe it has left him almost entirely bald.

He was found abandoned, tied to a fence in Wyke Beck Woods, Leeds, West Yorkshire, on May 16 and rescued by the RSPCA.


Flaky, so-named because of his condition, has demodectic mange, a harsh skin disease caused by a mite which strips away his fur.

RSPCA inspector Rachel Oprysk said: 'This poor dog is in a terrible condition and it will take many months for him to recover.

'He's suffering from demodectic mange which is a severe skin condition and is almost completely bald apart from a patch of hair on the back of his head and between his shoulders. His nails were also overgrown.

'Someone has allowed him to get into this state over a long period of time.

'It would seem they've then gone on to abandon him.'

Mandy Miller, manager at the RSPCA animal centre in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where Flaky is being looked after, said: 'His skin is going to take quite some time to heal.

Furless fried: Flaky the Staffordshire terrier is looking for a new home after being abandoned in woodland in Leeds where a rare skin condition ate away at his coat


'You can get different levels of demodectic mange, some dogs have a bit of fur missing, but he has lost almost all of his.

'He is a really sweet dog, he's very affectionate, but he is feeling a bit sorry for himself at the moment.

'I think he must be in quite a lot of discomfort and his feet were swollen when he came in, as well as his sore fur.

'He has been through a long ordeal and I am sure he will start to perk up a bit after a while but he just needs a bit more time to feel better.'

Mandy explained that Flaky is currently on antibiotics to ease the pain caused by his skin condition and he will also receive regular bathing using special shampoos to try and rectify it.

Looking for loving owners: Flaky is currently being cared for at an RSPCA centre in Bradford, but needs long-term care to get back to health


It is thought that Flaky's fur would usually be a brindle colour, but because of his severe loss of fur it is difficult to tell.

He was not microchipped or wearing anything by which to identify him.

He was taken to vets and then to RSPCA Bradford & District Animal Centre where he's receiving the care and attention he needs.

Inspector Oprysk said: 'This is not going to be a quick thing.

'He'll need months of special baths to get the skin condition under control.

'The good thing is he's now getting that treatment and hopefully, in due course, the animal centre will be able to find him the sort of home all dogs deserve.'


source:dailymail