An abandoned bulldog has been found outside an RSPCA centre in Leeds, covered in cigarette burns.
The pooch, named Hector, was discovered tied to the gates of the Leeds, Wakefield & District Branch Animal Centre in East Ardsley at the start of August, with CCTV footage revealing a black Mercedes dropping him off.
The driver can be seen getting out of the vehicle and walking to the rear of the car, before tying Hector to the railings.
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Sadly, the dog isn't microchipped, so RSPCA officers are struggling to track down his owners - but they are hoping they've uncovered one major clue.
Animal Care Manager Lucynda Hodgson said: "He really shut down after what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him but after a few days of getting used to the staff he is doing a lot better and seems much happier.
"Initially he wasn't responding to any English words so - given the foreign plates on the car - we tried some other options and it emerged he was actually very well trained, in German.
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"He's a quick learner and even after just a few days is already picking up English."
Hector is a tan and white, un-neutered bulldog in good condition, with what looked to be freshly cut nails. However, devastatingly, he has some burns on his body - thought to be from cigarettes.
Lucynda explained poor Hector was incredibly distressed when he was found, with the team struggling to get near him.
"We had to call for an inspector to come and help as the dog was being rather aggressive and although he was wearing a pretty hefty muzzle the staff were struggling to get near him," she added.
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"He was tied up with a heavy chain lead so short that he could barely lay down and was so upset that he had twisted the chain lead tighter and tighter around his neck to the point that he couldn't move in any direction.
"It took two of our animal care assistants and the officer to free him and get him up to our kennels."
The team are urging anyone with information to call the RSPCA Inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and ask to leave a message for Emily Stodart, who is investigating what happened.
Emily said: "Poor Hector was very distressed when he was found.
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"We would like to find out how Hector came to have these injuries and who abandoned him in this way. If you can help us to locate his owner please call me."
Sadly, just last week we told you the heartbreaking story of a 13-year-old golden retriever abandoned by his owner.
In a clip, a woman can be seen pulling up in her car on the roadside, before opening the rear passenger door. The pooch hops out and the woman closes the door behind him.
You can see the footage below:
She then walks a short distance with the dog, who can be seen wagging his tail as if they're going for a walk, before running back to the car.
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The footage - caught by a man named Brandon Price - has been shared online by non-profit organisation I Paw'd It Forward.
You can read more about it here.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: RSPCA, Life News, Animals, Dogs