The saddest dog

While other dogs romp in the snow, Princess the puppy can only gaze longingly through the window.
Her skin is so delicate that she cannot go outside in any weather – even a warm jacket would irritate her beyond endurance.
Staff caring for her at a rescue centre say her only hope is a course of drugs which would cost a five-figure sum if given for life.

'Saddest-looking dog we've ever seen': Princess at the sanctuary

Heartrending: Six-month-old puppy Princess, a bull-breed-greyhound cross, who was found abandoned prepares for her special bath to treat her skin condition

Puppy love: Princess gets her first ever hug from Sallie Conroy, at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary just before Christmas

‘She’s the saddest-looking dog we have ever seen,’ said Neil Martin, manager of the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, near Edenfield, Lancashire. ‘Our staff are all in love with her but it’s only recently that she’s started learning how to enjoy a cuddle.


‘She didn’t even know how to play. We tried to get her to cheer up with some toys but she was scared of them.
‘We’re a long, long way from having a happy and trusting puppy wagging her tail.’

So delicate: The puppy suffers from a severe medical condition called demodectic mange that has left her with no hair. At present, with her delicate skin she can't stay warm enough to go outdoors, even in summer

A bit of TLC: Sallie tends to Princess. Staff hope the baths will help cure her condition but if not they may have to pay for an even more expensive course of treatment

Six-month-old Princess, thought to be a bull terrier-greyhound cross, was found in Colne, Lancashire, after being abandoned by her owner. ‘She is suffering from an advanced case of demodectic mange,’ said Mr Martin.

‘We are trying a basic skin treatment to see if she responds but she might need Atopica, which is very expensive.
‘The last dog we treated with Atopica is now happy, healthy and has been rehomed in a loving household. It’s the ultimate goal for all the animals we take in.’

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