The lease had run out on the property and the dog had been left inside a shed. When found, he had no food or water and was dangerously underweight. He was also flea-ridden and had rotten teeth due to untreated dental disease.

Once in RSPCA SA’s care, Cadbury’s life completely changed. With a careful feeding regime, he gained weight to become the handsome dog he should have been all along. Best of all, Cadbury has now found a loving family. In appearance and demeanour, he is nothing like the dog he was when found alone and starving in that shed.

The road to recovery

After taking Cadbury into care, Inspector Cheryl immediately brought him to the RSPCA SA Lonsdale shelter to receive much needed medical attention.

Our hardworking vets devised a comprehensive treatment plan for Cadbury to rule out any underlying disease the dog might be dealing with, on top of his emaciation and dental issues.

When Cadbury had reached a healthy weight, he was desexed and had all his decayed teeth were removed. Poor Cadbury’s dental health was so bad, he required two operations to remove all the decaying teeth.

Weight gain was a priority, and under a strict feeding regime, our dog-care team fed Cadbury small, nutritious meals throughout every day. Gradually Cadbury’s body began to transform from skeletal to a healthy shape and weight.

Cadbury was stealing everyone’s hearts 

During his time with us, Cadbury impressed our dog carers with his impeccable manners and gentle temperament when in the company of other dogs. When off lead he was happy to sit and watch the other dogs play.

After almost two months in our care, Cadbury‘s health was looking so much better and he had gained enough weight to be declared fit for adoption.

Once his profile was uploaded onto our adoption website, it wasn’t long before he captured the attention of Danielle and Jacob from Mount Barker.

“When we met him at the Lonsdale shelter, we were both sure that adopting him was the right thing to do,” shares Danielle.

At their first meeting, Cadbury immediately went up to Danielle and Jacob – he instantly felt at home.

It was a match made in heaven for Cadbury and his new family

Both Danielle and Jacob had grown up around dogs and had wanted to adopt one for a while – it was just a question of finding the perfect match.

They made the decision to look at adopting an older dog because they are often more placid and easier to manage than younger dogs and puppies. Danielle also wanted to adopt a more mature dog because she knows it is harder for them to find homes than it is for puppies.

Before adopting Cadbury, the couple only ever had fish as pets. We are so thankful that Danielle and Jacob decided to take the plunge and adopt Cadbury, and we are sure that Cadbury is thankful as well.

A happy ending for everyone! 

Cadbury has been with his new family for about a month and he has already settled in perfectly. With Daniel working from home, there is always someone there to give him lots of attention and treats.

Danielle shared with us that Cadbury helps her with her ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

“He helps to add some structure to my day, and he also helps me emotionally,” she said.

Cadbury’s new life suits him well. He enjoys going on his daily walks, getting cuddles from his new family, and he has proven to be a natural when it comes to learning new commands.

We are also happy to report that Cadbury has gained even more weight and is now the perfect size for his breed! It’s hard to believe that he is the same dog we took into our care in October 2020.

If you’re considering opening your heart and home to a rescued animal-like Cadbury, head over here to see all our animals currently available for adoption.