A sick, starving and heavily pregnant golden retriever dumped in a field and left for days has found her fairytale happy ever after this Christmas with a loving new family.
The frightened four-year-old girl was so scared she she ran and hid when anyone tried to help her but was finally too exhausted and a passing dog walker managed to catch her and take her to a local vet.
Once examined and treated she was transferred to Blue Cross pet charity’s centre in Burford where she was given the name ‘Amber‘.
She was suffering from sarcoptic mange which had been left until she was bleeding from scratching and biting her itchy skin.
She was also skeletal apart from her bulging pregnant stomach.
The staff believed she had been used for ‘backyard breeding‘ and dumped when owners knew she would need to pay for vet intervention to deliver her large litter.
READ ALSO: Award-winning caterer given one-star hygiene rating
The charity has so far this year taken in 3,574 pets, from hamsters up to horses, for rehoming.
Over 14% of which were abandoned and left to fend for themselves before Blue Cross stepped in to help.
Hannah Wiltshire, centre manager at the Burford rehoming centre, said: "Poor Amber is just one of the pets we have helped this year and we are delighted she has found a wonderful loving home in time for Christmas.
"We have never been needed more and I'm incredibly proud that our team of staff and volunteers worked around the clock to give Amber's puppies the best possible start in life.
"Without our help it is unlikely Amber or her litter would have survived."
Soon after her arrival at Blue Cross, Amber showed signs of going into labour.
As a precaution she was taken to a vets where they discovered the puppies' heart rates were dipping and needed to be delivered by emergency C-section.
Eight puppies were delivered but with Amber too weak and stressed to feed them the Blue Cross team needed to step in to help.
READ ALSO: Two more Covid deaths recorded in West Oxfordshire
Over 25 staff and volunteers worked 24 hour shifts to feed the pups - named Theodore, Cider, Dougal, Kasper, Winnie, Holly, Sasha and Bailey.
Each needed feeding every three hours and it was touch and go for all nine dogs.
Thanks to the dedication of the Blue Cross team, Amber began to relax and get more sleep and she and her pups began to thrive.
All the puppies have since found loving new homes and Amber finally found her happy ending and a loving home in time for Christmas with the Griffiths family.
To donate to Blue Cross this Christmas, visit www.bluecross.org.uk/support
Read more from this author
This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
Profile: Miranda Norris Journalists news from the Oxford Mail
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here