Abandoned dog found terrified and tied to a flag pole in Birmingham in freezing weather

An abandoned dog was found tied to a flag pole in freezing cold near a fire station in Birmingham. The shivering pooch looked terrified when spotted by fire fighters from Woodgate Valley Fire Station with a purple plastic container, believed to contain water, left nearby.

The brindle coated dog’s breed was not mentioned, but it looks like a German Sheperd crossbreed. The abandoned animal is one of at least two dogs that have been found dumped since Christmas.

A representative of West Midlands Fire Service said that the “poor dog was found tied to the flag pole outside Woodgate Fire Station on Monday night (January 2). The large dog sedated before it could be safely released and taken to an RSPCA centre.!

A representative of the Woodgate Valley Fire Station added: “We were happy to supply the pooch with treats and water and the humans with tea and cake until doggy got the support he needed and whisked off to a warm and safe place. Bless him, hope he is doing ok. Well done to all involved (caring team).”

It comes as RSPCA figures show that at least 68% of pet owners in the country are finding it more expensive compared to last year. At least 19% are worried about feeding their pets while 28% are worried about being able to care for them.

An Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) for RSPCA said it was the second dog abandoned that night outside the Woodgate Fire Station when the temperature outside was 1 degree Celsius.

ARO Cara said: “Special thanks to West Midlands Police for their assistance tonight, puppy was absolutely terrified of everything. Makes me so angry!”

The rescue officer earlier said that she was called to rescue her first abandoned dog of 2023 on January 2. She said: “She [the dog] lay next to the water terrified, thankfully we made friends and she is now stuck to my side. I’m not sure how long she has been here but I’m glad she is safe with RSPCA now.”

What to do if you spot an abandoned dog

The 2021-2022 Christmas period alone saw abandonments rise by 29% from the previous year with 1,478 reports of abandoned animals to the RSPCA compared to 1,049 the previous year.

If you have found a healthy-looking stray dog, report it to the local council’s dog warden service and ring local vets and rescue centres. You can check if the dog is wearing a tag, if it is safe to do so. You can also ask local vets to scan the dog for a microchip.

The RSPCA doesn’t have enough resources to pick up healthy strays unless it’s an emergency.

You can access the Birmingham Council’s dog warden service here.