“Let’s get justice for Arthur" says animal charity after the little dog was found badly neglected and severely undernourished

The tiny dog, thought to be aged 2 or 3 years old, was named Arthur by Almost Home Animal Rescue’s volunteers after he was discovered in the Ballynahinch area of Sunday.

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The animal charity took the little one in and described his condition as “quite honestly beyond anything we have ever seen, or ever want to see again”.

Describing Arthur as ‘desperately underweight and severely malnourished’ they revealed has a skin infection, his nails are ‘horrendously overgrown’, and he struggles to walk properly.

"We can only imagine that he has spent much of his life confined in an incredibly small space, with little opportunity to move as a dog should. But perhaps the hardest thing of all is seeing just how broken and shut down he is.

"Arthur is a shadow of the dog he should be. He has clearly been through so much, and yet, despite everything, he still trusts us enough to let us help him. He allows us to care for him, and that little bit of trust means more than we can ever put into words."

The charity is keen to know his story.

“Someone, somewhere, knows this dog. Someone will recognise him. Someone may know where he came from, who owned him or how he ended up in this condition.

On Tuesday the charity thanked everyone for the ‘outpouring of love, concern and support for this little dog’ adding it ‘has been absolutely overwhelming’.

Arthur spent the day at Downe Vets in Downpatrick. He was sedated so that he could be shaved down and have his nails cut under anaesthetic.

"Arthur is understandably nervous of being touched and still a little unsure of what is happening around him. We can only imagine how much he has been through. But there are some positives. He is eating well, he is warm, he is safe, and he is finally being cared for.

"He has been prescribed antibiotics and a special shampoo to help with his skin infection. However, right now he really doesn’t want to be washed, and we’re not going to force him. That can wait until he feels comfortable, begins to trust us and is ready.

"For now, it’s about good food, rest, warmth, gentle handling and allowing him the time he needs to build himself back up. And build himself up he must.

"But we also need your help with something else.

"Thank you for sharing Arthur’s story because he DOES matter. And it DOES matter that a little dog was allowed to deteriorate to the condition in which he arrived with us.

"We want to understand what happened to Arthur. We want to establish who owned him, how he came to be in this condition and why.

"So please, keep sharing. If anybody recognises Arthur, knows where he may have come from or has any information that could help us piece together his past, please get in touch with us privately.

"We owe this little boy more than simply getting him well again. We owe him answers.

"Let’s do Arthur justice. Let’s make sure his story isn’t forgotten.”