A PET awareness day is being held this weekend to educate owners about how to care for their animals.The event at the RSPCA animal centre in Mill Lane, Martlesham, which has been organised to help promote the charity's national Pet Adoption week, is a chance for visitors to come and learn about their pets needs.

A PET awareness day is being held this weekend to educate owners about how to care for their animals.

The event at the RSPCA animal centre in Mill Lane, Martlesham, which has been organised to help promote the charity's national Pet Adoption week, is a chance for visitors to come and learn about their pets needs.

Many of the animals that come into RSPCA centres have been the victims of cruelty and neglect, others have been abandoned or are just no longer wanted.

Axel, a seven-year-old Cairn Terrier, who was at the centre at Martlesham following years of mistreatment, is just one example to illustrate the importance of rehoming.

The pooch is thought to suffer from a skin condition and his previous owner was too embarrassed to take him to the vet so he deteriorated.

Kieron Adams, manager of the RSPCA at Martlesham, said: “Axel came to us in January 2007. He was in a very sorry state with hardly any hair on his body, apart from a tuft on his head and some on his legs. “He was in a lot of pain as he had eye and ear problems that needed treatment, but did cause us some problems as he did not want to be handled due to the pain.

“By June he had improved dramatically and luckily this couple came in looking for a dog, saw him and could see beyond the bald dog that he was.

“Axel is now a different dog, and with the care from his new owners, his temperament has improved and nearly all of his hair has grown back.”

His new owner, Sue Wright, from Southwold, said: “My partner, Rod Hilton, and I were walking past the hospital wing and saw this little dog, which was dead ugly. He had no fur and looked very unusual but he had that spark in his eye.

“We could not take him home without a muzzle as he is a terrier and can be unpredictable. We are his third home and we love him.”

The pet awareness day will be held between 11.30am and 2pm. Advice will be given on keeping dogs, cat, rabbits and ferrets. There will also be advice on minor behaviour problems for cats and dogs and training problems for your dog. Refreshments will be available.

Do you know a story about an animal that has been mistreated? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.