Understand
Kent rescued lurcher Jude learns to play after living in darkness
Overview
A nine-year-old lurcher named Jude, who spent 427 days waiting for a new home at the RSPCA's Leybourne Animal Centre in Kent, has learned how to play and respond to his name after being rescued from a property with no electricity, clean water, or bedding. Jude was saved alongside eight other dogs and several snakes. Staff noted that multi-animal rescue cases are increasingly placing pressure on the charity, with inspectors handling hundreds of similar incidents across England and Wales. Jude's former owner was convicted of an animal welfare offence and banned from owning animals for 10 years.
Key points
- Jude, a nine-year-old lurcher, spent 427 days waiting for a new home at the Leybourne Animal Centre in Kent.
- He was rescued from a property kept in almost total darkness without clean water, bedding, or electricity.
- Jude had to learn basic skills like walking on a lead, responding to his name, and playing with toys.
- He was saved alongside eight other dogs and several snakes in a multi-animal rescue.
- The RSPCA reported an average of 410 multi-animal incidents a month in England and Wales this year.
- Jude's former owner was found guilty of an animal welfare offence and received a 10-year ban on owning animals.