AN ABANDONED dog found roaming alone in Baxenden, with a ‘horrific’ leg injury and fur matted with faeces, had to be put down.

The young female springer spaniel was discovered wandering in Manch-ester Road last Monday by two men who took her to the RSPCA Altham Animal Centre.

A vet who examined her found she was pregnant with two puppies.

She was suffering from an infected wound on one of her legs and, at first, it was thought she could be saved.

RSPCA Inspector Charlotte Booker said: “The vet said she had had the inf-ection for a while and that she had obv-iously been suffering.

“They thought it could be treated with a short course of antibiotics.

“But, by Friday, her condition got much worse over the week and, sadly, she had to be put to sleep.

“She just became too poorly. It’s really very sad.

“It was clear she hadn’t been living in a house, and looks like she had been kept outdoors.

“If a dog is lying in faeces, it will become matted in its fur.

“I can’t imagine she will have lived very far from where she was found wandering.

“It’s unlikely she will have lived outside Baxenden.

“We’re looking for anybody who might know anything about where she lived to get in touch with us.

“If we could trace any infor-mation on her, like who her owner was, then that would be great.”

Anyone with any information about the dog, or its owner, should call the RSPCA cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.

Calls can be made anony-mously, and the line is open 24 hours a day.