Barnawartha’s Janelle McVean, of Small Paws Rescue, saved two German spitz and a chihuahua from an existence riddled with beatings, living in small cages and a life without proper food.

The trio were among 11 dogs Ms McVean and another woman saved from a Shepparton property five weeks ago.

Ms McVean said for the first week the male and female German spitz were too scared to come out from the corner of her fernery and the male chihuahua also hid.

When she washed them the female’s hair was so flea ridden and matted she had to be bathed five times in one day and it took four days to comb the tangles out of her coat.

The male German spitz also had to be washed several times, have the matted hair around his rear clipped off and be treated for a skin irritation.

“They have all been badly neglected,” she said.

“All had been beaten.”

Ms McVean said the dogs vomited on the trip to safety and all the discharge contained was dry grass.

Later she offered them steak and chicken and they did not know how to eat it.

“The male chihuahua was just skin and bone when he arrived and flea ridden as well,” she said.

“It makes me so angry.”

But after five weeks of love and attention the dogs, while still timid, especially around men, are healthy and much happier and in need of a loving home.

“They need someone to give them a permanent home, permanent security and permanent love,” she said.

Ms McVean said their new owner or owners must be prepared to spend a lot of time with the dogs and would need to understand that the dogs had been traumatised.

She said it would be good to be able to keep the German spitz dogs together.

She would prefer a female owner to be the primary carer for all the dogs.

If you can offer a loving home call Ms McVean on (02) 6026 7038.