Burned dog dumped outside Chorley Police Station (From This Is Lancashire)

Burned dog dumped outside Chorley Police Station

1:30pm Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News By Chris Gee, Reporter

HEARTBROKEN animal welfare staff have released images of a stricken dog dumped at a police station in “appalling distress”.

The blue shar pei was left outside Chorley Police Station and had to be put to sleep.

It is the fourth time officers in the town have had to deal with such a distressing case since Christmas.

The animal was covered in what looked like cigarette burns and had a large tumour growing down its nose which would have meant months of pain.

Its gums were deteriorating severely and it was very emaciated.

Shelley Mee, the council officer who dealt with the case, said: “It’s really upsetting when we come across any cases of animal neglect but this one was particularly distressing.

“This sort of thing is going on and people are just not picking up the phone to say that they can’t cope any longer or they can’t afford it. If people get in touch with us we will be able to help and it means both the owner and pet will be able to have a better quality of life.”

Last year Chorley Council collected 419 dogs. Of those 45 were handed in because the owners were unable to keep them.

A further 109 were passed on to be rescue and rehomed, 109 were reclaimed and 134 returned to the owner after identification such as microchipping. But 22 dogs had to be put down.

Coun Terry Brown, responsible for animal welfare at Chorley Council, said: “It’s heartbreaking for our officers when they have to deal with cases of severe neglect and we’ve decided to go public with this case because it is so distressing and we need people to know there is help available.”

“We want people to know that if you find yourself in that position then you can come to us for help. We can point you in the direction of advice and support or ultimately we will take the dog for no charge and look to re-home it.

“We’d much rather be able to intervene before it becomes too late unlike in this distressing case where the dog’s health had deteriorated so much there was no other option than to put it to sleep.”