Jayda was found in a horrible state, but luckily, she is safe and happy now
An unsuspecting member of the public came across a small dog cowering in a bush in Harlesden, London last year. The fawn and white Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Jayda felt scared, significantly underweight, and bleeding from many wounds; and to make matters worse, there were indications she had recently given birth.
Luckily for the poor dog, the person who found her took her straight into Mayhew. There she was immediately assessed by vets and Animal Welfare Officers.
They estimated her age to be approximately four years old based on the poor condition of her teeth, which together with her famished appearance suggested that her diet had long been lacking essential nutrients.
The team quickly fell in love with her and decided on the name Jayda.
After Jayda had received a full health check and dental treatment, the vets realized that her true age was only half of their original estimate. At just over two years old, Jayda had experienced more suffering in her short life than we could bear to imagine.
Her left ear and right eye both showed signs of infection, and she had extremely painful-looking scratches and cuts all over her head, neck, and shoulders. A distinct mark across her muzzle also was proof that the ex-owners regularly taped his mouth.
During her initial examinations, Jayda was extremely nervous and needy. Most probably her previous owner hurt her.
She had a lack of love, so she latched on to Mayhew staff as soon as she became familiar with them. She quickly began to trust the team members who cared for her and reacted well to enrichment and socialization efforts.
One person in particular fell completely in love with Jayda at first sight. Mayhew’s Fundraising Officer Duschanca Singh was on the lookout for a special companion and adored Jayda from the very first moment they met. Jayda also quickly bonded with Duschanca, and the pair became inseparable.
Happily, Duschanca was the perfect match for Jayda. Now they regularly visit Mayhew to see loved ones.
“I fell in love with Jayda the moment I met her. It is amazing what progress she showed in the past seven months,” said Duschanca. “Her scars were signs of a bad start in life, but she has shown so much resilience. She is an extremely clever and affectionate dog and entertains me every day with her antics. She loves playing with other dogs in the park and is learning to play with toys as well. She’ll also do anything for food!”
Most of Jayda’s fur has now grown back, and her various wounds have healed – making her past nothing but a distant memory. However, she still feels the echoes of her trauma, as she still suffers from the occasional ear infection, and she is unable to wear a harness or winter coat around her shoulders due to the distress it causes.
