“When I first saw Devon I honestly thought that she would not survive, her condition was so appalling. But when we brought her back to the shelter I could see a hope in her eyes. It was almost like she knew that we were going to help her.” - Catherine Croatto, RSPCA ACT Senior Inspector.



Devon Before

Poor Devon was found alone in the backyard of a Gordon property. When they first saw her, Inspectors were shocked that she even had the strength to stand. She was so emaciated every bone in her body was protruding. Her skeletal frame was made more prominent by her sunken eyes and hair loss over her entire body. A large ulcerated lump on the back of her neck oozed blood, pus, and a pungent smell.

I will never forget the moment we first saw Devon. Five animals were taken from the Gordon home but of all the animals seized, poor Devon had suffered the most. I happened to be standing in our parking lot when the Inspectors arrived at the Shelter. Our team rushed the animals past me to be attended by our vets. I stopped what I was doing when I saw Devon. I needed to know more.

I was told that she was a Doberman, but she was grey in colour without any hair and the skinniest dog that I had seen alive. She looked like a grey ghost, not the shiny black and golden dog she was meant to be. Upon examination, RSPCA ACT Vets gave her a body score of just 1/9 due to her skeletal frame. They found what appeared to be carpet remnants wedged between her teeth. In a desperate attempt to fill her stomach with something, anything, Devon had tried to eat whatever she could find.

A severe infestation of mites had left her completely hairless and her skin had scaled over in reaction. I can’t even imagine the constant itching and pain she experienced every single day. Despite her condition, Devon’s tail still wagged. Her body was so weak but this sweet girl had a strong spirit.

Devon’s recovery was long and slow. Every day she needed bathing in a medicated shampoo to help soothe and heal her infected skin. Every day she was given three meals to help nourish her body and bring her weight back to normal.