Amazing story of dog left for dead in Highlands after being buried alive reveals vital importance of animal welfare group
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The Scottish SPCA has rehabilitated and rehomed a dog which was on the brink of death after he was buried alive in the Highlands.
After weeks of veterinary care and loving treatment, Scotland’s animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA has now found a loving home for Jake the border collie.
He had been left for dead under a pile of rocks at an undisclosed location in the region in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty the charity said it had seen.
Thankfully, passing hill walkers heard his cries and found him.
The walkers contacted the Scottish SPCA animal helpline and inspectors Yvonne Sloss and Mark Greener immediately made their way to where the callers were.
The inspectors then took him to a local vet where treatment was administered right away.
Inspector Yvonne Sloss said: “This was truly one of the worst cases I have ever experienced.
“When I first saw Jake I felt shock, sadness and disbelief that someone had deliberately done this to him.
“His head was so swollen and he was in a terrible way. We didn’t think there was any way he would make it.
"He was in a comatose state when we arrived at the vet where he received emergency treatment.
“Miraculously, Jake survived the night. It was only when he was transferred to our Glasgow vet clinic that we found out how bad it actually was.
“Poor Jake was in need of a lot of care to help him recover both mentally and physically.”
The team at the Scottish SPCA Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre veterinary clinic was shocked at the extent of his injuries.
He had multiple skull and jaw fractures and was blind in one eye.
Jake had to undergo numerous surgeries to remove the damaged eye and broken teeth.
Very slowly, Jake improved. He responded well to the expert care given to him at the vet clinic.
Just days before Christmas 2020, after almost six weeks of intensive treatment, Jake was fostered by Scottish SPCA inspector Mark Greener.
Due to how Jake was found, the team knew he would benefit from being in a secure and comfortable home to aid his recovery.
Mark said: “When Jake came home with me, he was still incredibly fragile. His fractures hadn’t completely healed and he was unable to close his jaw.
“Jake required specialist care and it took time for him to come round and really heal. It took him a while to trust me but now that he does, we’re bonded forever.
“We are always outside and Jake loves to play. I really couldn’t imagine life without him now. I’m so thankful to the passers-by who found Jake. Without them he may not have survived that day.
“But it’s also thanks to members of the public and Scottish SPCA supporters that Jake was able to be rescued and rehabilitated. We are only able to function due to funding from donations.
"These services which helped Jake to recover from his ordeal wouldn’t be here without the generosity of the public.
“I’m sure his experience still stays with him and always will but now he’s with me, we are doing all we can to make it a distant memory.”
The Strathy asked the charity for the rough location of where Jake was left to die but did not want to reveal further details.
A spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately we can’t narrow down the location any further as we need to protect the identity of those who contacted us."
The Scottish SPCA receives no government funding and is entirely reliant on donations from the public which make rescues like Jake’s possible.
To find out more about the #BecauseOfYou campaign and becoming a member of the Scottish SPCA, visit www.scottishspca.org/jake.
