Soap storyline has inspired her name, but let’s hope there’s no more drama for abandoned pup
CASSIE WAS LEFT BY SIDE OF THE A444
THEY have given her a soap opera character’s name, but animal carers are hoping that real-life dramas are over for a puppy found injured and malnourished at the side of the A444, near Twycross.
Cassie, thought to be a shepherd cross, is now being cared for by the RSPCA Woodside Animal Centre in Leicester.
She is three to four months old and was found to have an old fracture on her right hind leg.
She was taken in by RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal, who named her Cassie after a character in Coronation Street.
The inspector has recently been helping the soap with a storyline about puppy-breeding, in which Cassie Plummer, played by Claire Sweeney, saves pups from an illegal breeder.
“As well as being an inspector, I also work for our performing animal welfare team, and so I was on set while they were filming scenes with the puppies,” said Ms Boal.
“The team at Coronation Street were fantastic – showing great patience, listening to our advice and always putting the welfare of the puppies first.
“The storyline aired last Wednesday night and I collected Cassie on that Wednesday as well.
“So, given she is a puppy, it just seemed ideal to give her the Corrierelated name.”
Ms Boal thinks Cassie could have been the last in a litter of puppies that a breeder could not sell. She said: “She is so well mannered and so sweet, I fell in love with her the moment I met her.
“I really can’t understand why someone would have abandoned her. She’s still so very young, only and she is such a lovely little girl.
“She was clearly not being looked after well, given that she is lacking in nutrition, which is vital for breeds when they are young.
“She’s had a thorough vet check and it was found she also had a healed old fracture on her hind leg, although we have no idea what may have caused this.”
Anyone who has any information about how the pup was abandoned is asked to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018. large