Shelter has new mental health plan for animals

SPANIEL MARLEY IS AMONG THOSE RECEIVING SUPPORT

- LOUISE THOMAS

A NERVOUS Springer Spaniel who survived for days alone with his deceased owner is among the heartbreaking cases being helped by a new mental health scheme at a Plymouth charity.

Woodside Animal Welfare Trust has launched The Mental Health and Enrichment Sponsorship programme to support more animals like nine-year-old Marley, who was discovered by police at a Plymouth flat this summer.

The unsocialized dog was scared of going for a walk, meeting other dogs, and wary of people when he was first taken in by Woodside in Plympton.

But with the help of the charity’s new mental health sponsorship program, the once shut down spaniel has grown in confidence and is starting to understand that both animals and people can be his friend.

Three months after he first arrived at the Plymouth sanctuary, Marley is now ready for his forever home.

Assistant manager Dawn Cornish said helping animals like Marley was at the heart of the new sponsorship scheme.

“Marley’s owner wasn’t found for days so Marley was alone in the flat with him before police visited,” Dawn said.

“His owner struggled with severe mental health problems so poor Marley has really suffered both from watching his owner struggle and then grieving for him.”