Dog with worst skin condition found new Durham home

Lola, a Japanese Akita, was discovered in January 2024 in a filthy property in Durham, skeletal, almost hairless and covered in thick scabs caused by an untreated sarcoptes mite infestation.

When RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Krissy Raine first saw her, she said she could not even tell what breed Lola was.

Lola, the Japanese Akita had to be sedated so they could clean her wounds properly (Image: RSPCA)

Krissy said: “She was emaciated, with her ribs, hips and spine visible and most of her fur was missing. She also had thickened scabs completely covering her face and ears, there was blood, puss and scabs all over her face, body and tail.

“It was an horrendous sight and it sounds awful to say but she just didn’t look like a dog at all – it was like nothing I have ever seen.”

Lola was found whimpering, lying in her own urine and surrounded by flies. Her skin was so inflamed and painful that she cried when touched.

Lola, with the worst skin condition the vet had ever seen (Image: RSPCA)

Krissy added: “She hung her head low, her eyes were sunken in and she looked depressed – it was like she had almost given up on life due to the suffering she was having to endure. She was existing, she wasn’t living.”

With the owner’s permission, Lola was rushed for emergency veterinary care. She had to be sedated so she could be examined. The vet said she had one of the most severe cases of sarcoptes mites they had ever seen.

Lola’s wounds gave off a horrendous smell with scabs covering most of her body (Image: RSPCA)

The condition had left her skin thickened, crusted and infected, and the constant itching meant she had been unable to rest or feed properly.

Lola was given a body condition score of 2 out of 9 and weighed 23.8kg. The vet said she was likely to have been suffering for months.

For eight days she required repeated sedation so she could be bathed and treated to remove scabs and ease the itching.

Lola, the nine-year-old Japanese Akita now, all recovered (Image: BRETT HARKNESS)

Once stable, she was transferred to RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre, where ongoing treatment revealed her true appearance and personality. When Krissy visited weeks later, she did not recognise her.

Krissy said: “I said ‘that’s lovely – can I see my dog now’ I had no idea it was her she was completely different. I was in tears seeing her so normal and happy.”

In July Lola was adopted by Alison Ranger, 65, a retired carer who lives with her disabled husband Alan near Durham (Image: BRETT HARKNESS)

In July, after six months with no interest from potential adopters, Lola was rehomed by Alison Ranger, 65, a retired carer living near Durham with her disabled husband Alan.

Alison had a terminally ill pet dog called Zuri who she had adopted from Felledge before and she had seen Lola on their website and thought she was lovely.

 She said: “When Zuri passed away I looked again and Lola was still available – so I did think well maybe this is meant to be.

 “I went to see her for the first time at the centre and the staff said no-one had shown any interest in her during the six months she had been there which made me sad. She just had this look about her which said ‘look at me and please love me’ but she was also quite aloof at first.

 “As she was an older dog aged about nine I thought no-one else is likely to want her and I knew her background so decided after all she has been through I should give her that chance of a new life.

 “For the first two weeks at home she didn’t really engage with us much – she stayed on the edges of our life just watching but one day I just saw the penny drop for her. She softened and really came out of her shell. Then she decided it was nice to have affection and treats and enjoy walks. She is now so settled and well behaved and gives a lot of love.

 “My husband is disabled, and she loves going into his room and giving him fuss, and it is great company and affection for him too. She is very laidback and really a lovely dog.

 “She now really rules the roost and has decided the spare bedroom is her bedroom. She has brought so much joy to our lives.  Having a dog like Lola gives you a reason to get up in the morning – especially as she loves her breakfast, so I don’t have a lot of choice! She is perfect and fits into our lives.

Lola, the nine-year-old Japanese Akita now, all recovered (Image: BRETT HARKNESS)

Krissy said: “I have never seen a dog in such a state as Lola. It really is a miracle she survived and is thriving – I am so thrilled to see how happy she is and how much love she gives and gets in return. It really makes my job so worthwhile.”

Two people were later convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to Lola and were disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.

The RSPCA said Lola’s case highlights the scale of neglect it is dealing with, with reports at a five-year high and rising by 28 per cent last year.

The charity has launched The Big Give Back to Animals appeal to support frontline rescue work.