RSPCA officers are searching for the person who "neglected and starved" a dog who was so thin when he was abandoned in Bury his spine and ribs were visible.
The American bulldog cross, named Murphey by his rescuers, was "severely emaciated" and frightened when a member of the public spotted him tied to a tree in Hurst Wood, near Clifton Country Park in Radcliffe at around 7am on Saturday, April 3.
He was around 10kg lighter than he should be, so thin that his spine and ribs were sticking out, and he had pressure sores on his hips and ankles with a rash all over his body. Experts think he got the sores from being squashed in a tiny cage where he didn't have any space to move.
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Murphy has been receiving care from the RSPCA Preston and District branch since being rescued, having physio to help get him moving and build up a good physique and starting to put weight on, gaining 1.5kg in two weeks. Once his health has stabilised, the RSPCA will start searching for a new home willing to take in Murphy.
Mark Allen, manager at the branch caring for Murphy, said: "Murphy weighed just 16.6kg (around 2st 9lb) when he arrived, around 10kg under the weight he should be for a dog of this breed. He's now on a special diet to help him gain weight, which he's doing, however this is going to be a long process as the physio will be to build him up. Once he's recovered from his ordeal we'll find him a new home.
"He's a lovely young dog, aged between one and two, who's been severely neglected in his short life. We suspect he's been kept squashed in a small cage where he didn't have the space to move or turn around because of the nature and locations of the sores."
The RSPCA are investigating how Murphy came to be in such an "awful condition", and are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from around Clifton Country Park on the morning of April 3. Anyone who might recognise Murphy from the time he spent with his owners is also urged to get in touch.
Inspector Jess Araujo said: "I'm keen to trace the person who neglected and starved poor Murphy before tying him to a tree and simply walking away. It's heartbreaking that there are irresponsible people who simply don't care for their pets and dump them like rubbish when they no longer want them.
"I'm appealing for anyone with any information on who owned Murphy to get in touch as he's a distinctive looking dog and I feel someone must know something. I also would like motorists in the area at the time to check their dash cam footage and for any residents nearby to also check their CCTV as I feel the owner lived fairly close to where Murphy was dumped and knew the area."
Anyone with information about Murphy has been asked to call the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
