Mabel's struggle to breathe has a happy ending

Bad breeding and irresponsible owners cause needless suffering… but with your help, animals can get the care they desperately need.

When RSPCA Inspector Chantel received a call about a group of painfully thin French Bulldogs wandering onto a road, she had a sinking feeling she already knew which dogs they were.

Months earlier, Inspector Chantel had visited a different property after concerns were raised about several French Bulldogs living there.

When she followed up her Animal Welfare Direction to ensure the owner had sought proper veterinary care as legally directed, the owner had left and taken all of the dogs to an unknown address.

Hidden away and suffering

When Inspector Chantel arrived at this new animal welfare call out, she found ten French Bulldogs living in shocking conditions.

Little food. No water. No fencing. The dogs were painfully thin and suffering from skin conditions, infections and parasites.

Inspector Chantel seized all ten dogs and brought them into RSPCA care.

Our RSPCA vets discovered the devastating extent of the dogs’ suffering.

One dog had a severe corneal injury and eye ulcer. Several were battling severe dental disease, and every dog was underweight and covered in fleas.

Costs are rising and animals like these ten French Bulldogs need your help today.

Can you help by making a donation to the RSPCA?

The devastating reality of unethical breeding

French Bulldogs are one of Australia’s most popular dog breeds, but irresponsible and unethical breeding can leave these dogs facing lifelong health problems and suffering.

The rescued dogs were dehydrated, malnourished and battling multiple infections and parasites. Several also showed signs of repeated breeding and inherited health conditions commonly associated with their breed.

One of the dogs, three-year-old Mabel, was struggling.

X-rays showed she had a malformed spine and an unstable hip joint. Even more frightening was her breathing.

RSPCA Veterinarian Dr Katherine Beaton explained, “Her tongue and soft palate leave barely any space at the back of their mouth.

“They have to breathe harder and harder into airways that are too narrow, especially when they become swollen and irritated.”

Without surgery, Mabel faced a future filled with pain and suffering.

Despite the risks, our veterinary team proceeded with surgery in the hope of giving Mabel a healthier future.

Slowly, Mabel began to recover.

At the same time, RSPCA Queensland Inspectors built a case against the dogs’ former owner who was responsible for their suffering. Putting forward all the evidence to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), a prosecution followed.

Last year, the defendant was convicted and fined $3,500 for five animal welfare offences.

Then came the moment every rescued animal waits for – finding a loving home.

Mabel struck gold with her adoptive family, who were determined to give her the life she’d always deserved.

“She’s the light of our lives,” her adopter Nick shared.

For Inspector Chantel, it was the outcome she had fought so hard for.

Helping animals like Mabel

Every year, RSPCA Queensland investigates hundreds of breeding-related complaints. Behind every report is an animal depending on someone to speak up for them.

Animals like Mabel need urgent veterinary treatment, safe shelter, rehabilitation and the chance to heal after cruelty and neglect.

This tax time, your support can help provide life-saving care for vulnerable animals who have nowhere else to turn.

Your donation could help fund emergency veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for dogs like Mabel and help keep our Inspectors on the road responding to animal welfare complaints.

Because every animal deserves a life free from pain and suffering and you can help give them that chance.