Wardens shocked by neglected dog found near Tadcaster (From York Press)

Wardens shocked by neglected dog found near Tadcaster

8:47am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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A DOG found starved and wandering near Tadcaster has been described as one of the worst cases of neglect seen by council animal wardens in 20 years.

The emaciated animal, which was also suffering from an untreated broken leg, is now being nursed carefully back to health at a kennel near Doncaster.

Billy, a cross-breed who is believed to be about seven-years-old, was found last week wandering in the Healaugh area by a warden from Selby District Council.

He was then taken to Clipsall Wood Boarding Kennels near Doncaster where shocked staff said the animal was just “a skeleton with skin.”

Kath Laycock, who runs the family-owned kennel, said: “It was shocking. To see him in the flesh was just terrible.

“He must have been left for weeks and weeks without food. He has had water because he wouldn’t have survived, but there is just no muscle. He was just all skin and bone.”

After being seen by a vet over the weekend, the kennel staff say they are hopeful Billy will recover from his ordeal.

Mrs Laycock said: “He’s perked up over Sunday and he’s eating small meals and he’s able to get up.

“But he needs a bit more care and attention because it will take a few more months, but he will pull through this.”

Mrs Laycock said she was convinced that Billy had not been roaming wild for weeks because he would have been able to find some food for himself in the wild and his coat was in relatively good condition with no sign of fleas.

She said: “There’s no badness in him. Normally a dog which has been starved will become quite aggressive when it comes to food, but time I think he’s going to be quite a friendly little fella when he comes round.”

It is believed the RSPCA is now trying to trace the owner of the animal.