In a desolate field near the village of Elphi, a 2-year-old lurcher and her six puppies were abandoned by their owner. The mother was tied to a metal pole by the neck with a chain, struggling to feed her babies who were too young to open their eyes. They were left without food or water, helpless and defenseless in the wilderness. Fortunately, a passerby noticed the distressing scene and called for assistance. The nursing mother and her pups were taken to a veterinary facility run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) for care and shelter. This heart-wrenching incident was reported by the Irish Times on November 6.

The exact duration of the family of seven’s entrapment remains a mystery. The rescue team suspects that the mother and her puppies met their demise soon after the mother delivered them. This information was reported by the Daily Mail.

According to Hugh O’Toole, the center manager of ISPCA, leaving a young dog that is only two years old tied up without shelter, food, and water can put the dog’s life as well as its puppies’ lives in danger. He also mentioned that due to the recent heavy rainfall and low temperatures, the situation could have been much worse. O’Toole expressed his gratitude for the dog owner who trained them, which made it possible for ISPCA to rescue them. The seven dogs were immediately taken to the ISPCA Special Animal Facility located in Lopgford County for medical attention. Fortunately, the mother and her puppies were not seriously injured, despite having gone through hunger and extreme cold.

Taking care of the family of seven was a challenging task for the ISPCA because their centers were always full, and they had limited resources. To deal with the high number of animals waiting for shelter, the organization sometimes had to use private kennels. Moreover, finding suitable and responsible homes for these animals often took time. The ISPCA spokesperson expressed his disbelief that anyone could leave a dog tied to a fence to nurse her puppies, echoing the sentiment of animal lovers worldwide. The photos of the stoic lörcher dog and her puppies shared by the ISPCA on Facebook garnered several comments expressing shock and sadness at the level of cruelty towards animals. One commentator described it as the saddest photo they had ever seen, highlighting the shocking nature of the situation and the poor mother dog’s efforts to protect her puppies.

One Facebook commenter emphasized the need for stricter laws and policies against animal abuse to prevent further mistreatment, citing other countries’ actions as a model for change. Despite microchipping being mandatory in the UK, the mother dog, now named Emmy Lou by her rescuers, was not chipped and had no known owner. Her six puppies, Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, Joe, and Patsy, will remain under the care of the ISPCA until they are old enough for adoption. The ISPCA, along with other animal welfare organizations worldwide, advocates for spaying and neutering pets to prevent overpopulation. A kind-hearted individual who stumbled upon Emmy Lou and her puppies on a cold November day in rural Ireland gave them a stroke of luck, and they will continue to receive love and care for years to come.