A starved dog has been put down after he was found collapsed under a bush – so skinny that all his ribs were showing.
The emaciated canine was found by a passer-by and taken in by the RSPCA to try and save him.
His body was covered with fleas and as the young black, Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog was not microchipped an owner could not be traced.
The “bag of bones” had to be put down as he was too weak to support his own body weight.
Inspector Rosie Russon said was found in Magpie Hall Road in Chatham, Kent, on November 18.
She said: “When I collected this poor dog I was horrified, he was just a bag of bones.
“He was so weak he didn’t have any strength to even try and support his tiny body.
“I was just so sad to think that he had been left to suffer in this way for such a long time, and even though he was clearly dying he was then just dumped by a bush during a dark cold winter’s evening.
“I struggle to comprehend how anyone could be this cruel to an animal.
“I would appeal to anyone who may recognise him from the photograph. He was also wearing a black fabric collar.”
The animal charity is now appealing for information on the dog.