RSPCA launch investigation after starving puppy that was 'days from death' found in London flat

A five-month-old abandoned puppy was mere “days from death” when she was rescued by the RSPCA. The starving and emaciated dog, named Chestnut by RSPCA staff, had been left in a flat in Tottenham, north London.

She had been left there with no food – with vets estimating that she may have not eaten for around a month. Chestnut was only rescued after a maintenance worker happened to spot her through one of the property’s twelfth-floor windows while he was abseiling down the building.

He called the RSPCA and animal rescue officer Lee Rickets attended the address. Police were called to force entry and seize the puppy on December 22.

When they arrived, Chestnut was cowering behind a broken bed frame in a room covered in rubbish. She was subsequently handed over to the RSPCA for further care.

Lee said: “Police searched the property which was covered in rubbish and broken furniture. It was not fit for animal or human habitation. The poor puppy was cowering behind a broken bed frame and was carried out by the police who handed her over to the RSPCA to be taken for immediate veterinary treatment.

“A vet assessed the puppy and predicted that if she had been placed in the property at a healthy weight she may not have eaten for around four weeks. The vet said that if she had been left even a few days longer, she would have likely starved to death."

He added: “The puppy was incredibly fortunate that the maintenance worker had been working on the external walls of the building, something that would happen very rarely, and that he happened to spot her. Without him reporting it to us she almost certainly would have died.

“Thanks to the actions of the caller, my colleagues, Wood Green Police, and Haringey Council, the puppy was rescued and is now doing well in one of our hospitals. We would like to appeal to the public for more information regarding what happened to this poor puppy before being found."

Chestnut is now recovering at an animal hospital. Anyone with any information about the case should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01196311.