Mum and pups rescued from squalor

Unrecognisable from the filthy, underweight little dog that first came to Blue Cross, adorable Midge has undergone a remarkable transformation.

The happy young white Maltese dog loves nothing more than cuddling up with her new family and heading off on magical adventures by camper van.

“I love her to bits, she’s just perfect,” says Eliza McKenzie, who adopted Midge along with husband Danny after meeting her at Blue Cross Burford rehoming centre in Oxfordshire.

“She’s our little midget gem and we wouldn’t be without her now.”

The couple – who recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary – have surrounded Midge with love since she joined their lives, helping the rescue pet leave her past traumas behind.

For grandmother-of-six Eliza, each morning brings the joy of seeing Midge.

“I look forward to waking up and seeing Midge,” shares Eliza, 55, who works from home as a cognitive behavioural therapist for people with depression and anxiety.

“We’ve got children who have all grown up and we’ve looked after our grandchildren and I just felt that I had space to give, to love.”

With a “little space that needed to be filled in terms of giving love”, Eliza and 57-year-old Danny, who works in the television industry, have allowed Midge the time to grow in confidence.

Day trips in their camper van gave Midge a taste of adventure, before the couple and their beloved pet headed off on their first van holiday to the beautiful landscapes of Norfolk’s expansive beaches.

It’s a complete contrast from Midge’s life before she was given a helping hand by Blue Cross.

Arriving with her three-week-old puppies, the whole family was filthy, underweight and covered in fleas when Blue Cross took them in.

The trio of lovable pets were so caked in grime they were brown, instead of their natural white colour.

Seized by the dog warden and council officials from the home where they were among 18 dogs living in a single puppy pen, Blue Cross gave the little family all the care they needed.

Poor Midge was skinny, had a painful chronic ear infection, and needed treatment for an anal infection too.

And her tiny young pups needed dedicated care to help them after such a dismal start to life.

The unsanitary conditions had left two-year-old Midge in a terrible state, as Blue Cross Pet Welfare Assistant Chloe Lomas explains: “Midge, Kevin and Ivy were unclean and covered in fleas when they first came in.

“We thought there were brown-coloured patches on them, but they were actually large mounds of fleas, filth and grot.

“Midge had large saliva staining on her rear, as well as being underweight, and having a chronic ear infection.”

The team at our Burford rehoming centre worked around the clock to help the rescued pets get back to full health.

Vet care was first, with flea and worming treatments a priority, along with making sure Midge and her pups gained weight.

Once the puppies were on solid food and off Midge’s milk, our team was able to fully treat her ear infection.

Despite coming to Blue Cross in such a sorry state, the loving and playful pets quickly made themselves at home.

“They were all loving and very robust considering their background,” adds Chloe.

“The team helped nurture this by providing a lot of enrichment for them. From novel items in their kennel to trips to different parts of the centre, and meeting team members from across Blue Cross, this all helped them with their journey.”

After 30 days in Blue Cross care, the two pups found loving new families in the West Midlands, where they can grow up surrounded by happiness, fun and attention.

Gorgeous Kevin is an “absolute sweetheart”, who has fitted right in with his new family, including two-year-old cockapoo Skye, says rehomer Eleanor Hulme.

“He’s full of love, cuddles and kisses for everyone he meets,” she adds.

Meanwhile, his sister Ivy has been transformed from a “quiet, scared little thing” when she arrived at her new home with the Price family.

“The playful puppy soon emerged,” says Amy Price, who adopted Ivy along with her husband and three children, joining the family’s existing two rescue dogs.

“Seven months on she is a whirlwind, brave, fearless and the heart of our home.”

As for mum Midge, she began her new life at home in Bromsgrove after 42 days with Blue Cross, once she had fully healed from her infections.

It’s clear there are plenty more adventures for the tiny dog on the horizon – with Eliza and Danny already planning to explore Europe by camper van.

“Midge fits our household and our lifestyle really well,” adds Eliza. “She’s really part of the family now. She’s patient, she’s got personality, Midge is so much more than what we could have ever imagined.”