A DOG lover is calling for help to bring two street dogs from Cambodia back to her Whitnash home.
Rachel Connolly spent a year living in the impoverished southeast Asian country teaching English.
A year was much longer than she originally intended, but her plans changed after she stumbled across a ‘terrified and starving’ dog who had just given birth to a litter of puppies.
Knowing she could not leave them to probably die, she took them back to her home where they continued to live with her and flourish.
The 27 year-old rehomed five of the six puppies, and kept one which she called Shambles. She also kept the mum in a bid to give her a better life, and called her May.
Former carer Rachel told the Observer: “I found May hiding in an abandoned guesthouse, terrified, starving to death and had just given birth. She was in such bad condition, her fur had fallen out and you could see every bone in her body.
“I started leaving her water and food and would just sit near her. Sometimes she would bark and growl at me and other times she would whimper and cry.
“Now she is the healthiest, sweetest, most affectionate dog ever.”
Recently Rachel returned to Whitnash after running out of money and needing to save enough to bring May and Shambles to the UK.
But the costs currently stand at a minimum of £1,500 – which she is struggling to afford.
She has the dogs in quarantine on a friend’s farm where they will stay for three months until they can be transported back to the UK. By that time she hopes to have the money to bring them immediately home.
Rachel said: “I couldn’t come home and bring myself to leave these beautiful dogs on the streets – the life of a Cambodian street dog is so rough. May is still afraid of sticks and people, she won’t play fetch or chase because she’s been beaten.
“The amount of dogs which get killed daily is so high, if it’s not other dog attack, it’s being hit by a motorcycle, or dehydrating in the baking hot sun. Worst case scenario is that they get eaten or skinned alive by the locals.
“I can’t bring myself to leave them in this country, but I’m a traveller, I came away over a year ago with only two months’ wages and I have come home to make some money while they are in quarantine.
“I was always planning on bringing the dogs back to England but the costs are mounting up so quickly. There are so many hidden charges. I really need help to get my babies home.
“Please help me get May and Shambles back to Leamington, where they can be looked after and experience love as pets.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/pleasehelp-save-may-and-her-baby to donate.
