Starving dog dumped near Harborough has had to be put to sleep

The critically-ill shar pei dog, thought to have been used for breeding, was callously thrown away like “rubbish”, the RSPCA said.

The animal welfare charity is now urging anyone who knows anything about the appalling case to contact them urgently as they hunt the offenders.

The seriously-stricken animal had half of her fur missing due to a severe skin condition after being evilly used and abused.

She was found at the side of a road by a motorist near Prince Rupert’s Viewpoint, between East Farndon and Clipston.

The horrified passer-by immediately alerted the RSPCA.

Outraged Insp Ann Bennett, who dashed to the scene, told the Harborough Mail: “This poor dog was left starving and in obvious need of veterinary care.

“But it appears someone decided to simply throw her away like rubbish rather than seek out the urgent help she so desperately needed.”

She found the severely-emaciated dog collapsed in the crate near the flagpole at the world-famous Naseby battlefield site on Clipston Road.

Insp Bennett rushed the dog to a local vet’s for emergency treatment.

But the extremely-weak animal was severely underweight, unable to walk and had lost most of her fur due to an untreated skin condition.

The RSPCA also suspects she had been used to produce puppy after puppy in a cruel breeding operation.

She was found to have multiple health issues and yelped in pain as the vet tried to treat her.

“Sadly the vet decided the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep to end her suffering,” said an RSPCA spokeswoman.

The dog, said to be “middle-aged”, was not microchipped.

Insp Bennett is now appealing for information to track down who owned the poor dog.

She also wants to talk to anyone who saw anything suspicious after the dog was initially spotted at about 2.30pm on Thursday, February 27.

“There were clear signs she had been used for breeding.

“So it is almost as if she had served her useful purpose and was no longer required,” said Insp Bennett.

“She must have been suffering as she was severely emaciated.

“She was also collapsed and she had 50 per cent fur loss due to an untreated skin condition.

“To just leave her in a crate at such a remote location is such a callous act.

“I am appealing for anyone who knows who she belonged to to get in touch with us urgently.”

Insp Bennett believes the dog would have been driven to the site in a car before being dumped.

There is a car-parking spot about 50 yards away.

“I’ll also be checking CCTV in the area.

“Anyone with information should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018 straight away,” said Insp Bennett.