Labrador with facial growth seeks loving home and place to recover from surgery

A Labrador who has been living with a large, uncomfortable growth on her face for three years is looking for a loving new home where she can recover from surgery to remove it.

Six-year-old Millie (pictured above) arrived at RSPCA Suffolk Central Branch, in Martlesham, in August when her owners could no longer care for her.

She was extremely overweight at 44kg (97lbs) which has affected her joints and her mobility so her previous owners had put her onto a diet.

Now, at Martlesham, she’s continuing her weight-loss journey and is on a strict diet and exercise plan to help her shed more weight. She’s already dropped down to 35.9kg (79lbs).

Staff also noticed a large lump on the side of her face (the size of an orange) which her previous family said she’d had for three years. 

The team launched a fundraising appeal to pay for surgery to remove the growth and are thrilled to have raised all the money they need to fund the operation.

Now they want to find her a home – fostering to begin with but hopefully making her stay permanent – so she can settle in, and continue to lose some weight, before she’s ready to have her surgery.

Senior kennel assistant Emma Thresh said: “Millie is finding life in kennels really difficult and despite our best efforts she’s struggling to cope; it’s heartbreaking to see.

“She needs surgery to remove the large and uncomfortable growth from the side of her face and we’ve raised all the money we need to pay for this procedure – as well as surgery to neuter her – but it’s a lot for her to go through so we’d like to have this carried out as soon as possible, once she’s in a new home so she has somewhere quiet and calm to recuperate afterwards.”

The team is hoping someone will be able to offer this lovely girl a loving new home – fostering to start with while she has her surgery and recovers, with the bill covered by the branch – and then making the move permanent as long as she settles in happily.

Ideally, Millie would like to be the only pet in her new home, but she could live with children aged over eight.

Emma added: “Millie is a sweet girl who loves being in the company of people. She loves playing with her toys and going for short walks but really she just wants to be close to her favourite humans.

“She is looking for a new friend to love but any prospective owners will need to be aware that she can find it difficult being left home alone so they’ll need to gradually introduce her to time alone when she’s settled and comfortable.

“Due to the ongoing veterinary treatment she needs, we’d like to find her a local home with owners who live in Suffolk or can easily access her vets in Needham Market.

“Millie is doing really well with her new diet and exercise plan and has already shed more than 8kg, but we’d like her new owners to continue with this. She also has pain relief for her joints and this will also be ongoing when she’s rehomed.

“We’re hoping to have Millie settled in her home before the operation to ensure she can heal from this in the comfort of a home setting.”

• Find out more about Millie on her online profile or contact the centre on 0300 999 7321 or info@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk. To apply to adopt Millie, fill in an online application form.
• To see all of the animals looking for homes at the RSPCA, visit rspca.org.uk/findapet.