A pooch found abandoned and extremely weak on the street was described as "the thinnest dog ever seen" by an RSPCA officer.
Lucas, a greyhound-lurcher cross, was terrified and could barely move when police discovered him on a road in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
The canine had also lost 98 per cent of his fur loss due to an untreated skin condition, and had a broken tail bone which was so badly infected that part of it had rotted off.
"I was really shocked when I first saw him," RSPCA Inspector Ben Cottle-Shaw, who has 16 years of experience with the charity, said today.
"He was the thinnest dog that I had ever seen which was still alive and on top of this he had an awful untreated skin condition which meant he was constantly scratching and had left him almost completely bald."
"I could tell by his demeanour and look in his eyes Lucas had given up on life as he was so broken and withdrawn. It was heartbreaking to see."
The starving dog had a type of canine scabies, called sarcoptic mange, and needed emergency treatment at a vets.
The open wound on Lucas' tail had become so infected that the end of the tail dropped off at the veterinary surgery.
The vet in Barnsley also suspected Lucas may have come from a home with another dog due to scratch marks found down his front legs.
This has caused concern as the type of sarcoptic mange Lucas had is highly infectious and also transferable to humans, so Ben fears other pets or even people in the household from where Lucas came from could also be infected.
A microchip revealed he was called Lucas but his ownership details had not been kept up-to-date.
"I had rushed him for veterinary treatment and was worried he might not even make the short journey for emergency treatment," the RSPCA officer continued.
"But once there he was such a friendly little boy despite being obviously starving and suffering from a horrific case of sarcoptic mange."
Lucas is making a good recovery at RSPCA’s Felledge Centre in County Durham.
Luka Atkinson, animal centre deputy manager, said: “He is such a sweetheart and is already beginning to find some energy to run around the exercise field. His fur is beginning to grow back and he is on a special diet to help regain weight slowly.
“The colour of his skin is now paler as his inflammation has settled more. There is still quite a way to go and Lucas will not be ready for rehoming for a while.”
Ben is now appealing for anyone who knows who is responsible for neglecting Lucas to call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.
