Rescued one-eyed shih-tzu progresses 'every second'

Rhubarb was rehabilitated at the RSPCA in St Columb

One of 96 shih-tzus rescued from a breeding home in appalling conditions has become a "completely different dog" since her rehabilitation with the RSPCA.

The organisation described the dogs as "flea-infested" and "matted with faeces" as a result of over-breeding when found in Torquay, Devon, in 2022.

Lauraine Maddox, from Bodmin, adopted Rhubarb, or Rhu, who underwent rehabilitation at the RSPCA in St Columb.

Ms Maddox said Rhubarb, who now only has one eye, progresses "every single second".

Ms Maddox said it took Rhubarb a while to realise she was safe

Figures shared with the BBC on Tuesday showed animal cruelty reports in the summer months rose by a third across England and Wales.

Ms Maddox said she found the data scary.

She said: "You just don't know what's happening on your street. And it's scary that you can walk down the road and in these houses there could be all of these animals that are being neglected and abused.

"I think the more people that take a stand and the more people that say 'you know, something doesn't feel right here', the more animals that we can save."

'Bond and a trust'

Ms Maddox said Rhubarb had adapted faster than she had expected but it took the dog a while to realise she was safe.

"It took a long time, she had to understand that we weren't going to force anything on her, if she wasn't ready to do something that was absolutely fine," she said.

"Obviously, you take a little dog out into the world", she said "and everybody wants to come over for a cuddle".

"You have to have the confidence to say to people 'look I'm really sorry, I'm trying to work on a bond and a trust here with a rescue dog'."

Ms Maddox said: "She needs to know that I'm going to stand up for her and that I am her safe place.

"When she's ready, yes we can progress to that, but right now we have to take this in her own time and if she's not ready then that is absolutely fine."

Rhu competed in Scruffts in March

She added if people were thinking about getting a rescue dog they should "do it."

"Don't feel bad. If the journey is two steps forward and one step back, that is absolutely normal.

"It will be the best thing that you do in your entire life."