Hunt for owner after elderly collie 'dumped like a bag of rubbish'

WITH barely any strength in its legs and covered in faeces, this neglected dog was dumped like "a bag of rubbish" by its owner on a Knowle West street, the RSPCA have revealed.

The elderly collie, suffering with urine scalding having been kept in filthy conditions, was abandoned close to the walk-in health centre and left to fend for itself.

When the mistreated pet was handed in to the RSPCA by a kind-hearted member of the public, vets had no option but to put him down to prevent further suffering.

Now the charity is appealing for information so it can trace the dog's owner and bring them to justice.

The member of the public found the brown-and-white collie collapsed at the side of the road near the health centre in Downton Road at about 4pm on Sunday and alerted the RSPCA.

The neutered male dog was taken to the charity's clinic in St Philip's, where it was found to have weakened legs, matted fur, urine scalding and its coat covered in faeces.

The RSPCA is appealing for information in a bid to find out who abandoned the dog, which was not wearing a collar and had no microchip, and how he came to be in such poor condition.

RSPCA inspector Chris James, who is investigating the case, said: "This dog could not stand, let alone walk so we believe someone must have driven him to the area and then dumped him from their car, as though he was little more than a bag of rubbish.

"The state of his coat and the fact he has had urine scalding and was covered in faeces suggest he was kept in dirty conditions for some time, prior to being abandoned and we are concerned that there might be other animals at risk of suffering.

"We are very keen to hear from anyone who knows this dog or has information about who was responsible for him or how he came to be abandoned in this way."

Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Inspector James.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal faces up to six months in prison and/or a £20,000 fine.

Inspector James added: "To allow an old frail animal to get into this state and then simply dump it is both heartless and cowardly."

Dozens of pet owners appear before courts in Bristol every year for neglecting their pets.

In December last year, a couple were hauled before magistrates after they were found to be neglecting their cats. An RSPCA inspector discovered four underweight cats living in filthy conditions when they visited the pair's home in Hartcliffe.

In 2010, a man, also from Hartcliffe, neglected his two dogs and left them in such a serious condition that the RSPCA had to put them down.

Last month, the RSPCA announced that the number of pets being abandoned across the country had risen by 65 per cent as owners struggled to afford to look after them.

Some 40,595 animals were abandoned in 2011 compared to 24,638 in 2007.

up and running computer services trainers certificate bikinis prices