Someone dumped a six-week-old puppy with a deformed paw in a box in a park in Greater Manchester.
The pup, believed to be a Patterdale Terrier-type, was found by a woman who heard a rustling noise coming from the box in Ashton-under-Lyne on November 7.
She went to see what it was and found the dog sitting there with no food and water.
Thankfully, she was able to take him home from Cedar Park and then reported what had happened to the RSPCA.
Inspector Ryan King is now investigating and is keen to trace the person responsible for abandoning the pet, who has now been named Keith.
He believes the puppy may have belonged to a breeder who dumped him because of his deformed paw which means he struggles to bear weight on the leg.
Ryan said: ‘The poor helpless puppy must have been terrified after he was left alone in unfamiliar territory and without his mum.
‘He had no food and water and if he was not found by this member of the public he could easily have died.
‘To dump a helpless puppy in this way is callous and cruel and I believe someone has bred a litter of pups and decided to abandon this one because they noticed he had a deformed paw and decided they would not be able to make any money from him.
‘I am hoping someone will know who this puppy belonged to and can provide me with that information.
‘Someone may have been to view a litter of puppies and may have seen this dog as he is quite distinctive.
‘I would urge anyone with information to call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.’
Keith is now in foster care with Ryan’s RSPCA colleague Inspector Jess Arajo and is doing well.
Ryan added: ‘He is such a sweet dog. He is adorable and he has settled well with Jess.
‘We are not sure how he will be with his paw until he is older. He may be able to adapt to life with it or it may have to be amputated at some stage we don’t know.
‘I am just so glad he is getting the love care he deserves after an awful start in his life.’
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