Help us find brute who nearly starved dog to death

Jun 11 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

ANIMAL welfare officers were yesterday hunting a cruel dog owner who starved this pooch until it was left clinging to life.

The pitiful-looking boxer dog was found by wardens in Paisley in a “horrific” condition with its ribs protruding and skin draping over its bony hind quarters – showing it had gone weeks without being properly fed.

Thankfully, the animal was discovered in the nick of time and is now making a slow recovery in the care of the SSPCA.

Now the charity’s welfare team have appealed to Paisley Daily Express readers for help to track down the callous yob who allowed the pet to sink into such a desperate state.

SSPCA Inspector John Wilson hit out: “Whoever is responsible for causing this poor dog to suffer to this extent deserves to be caught and brought to justice.

“The dog was so badly emaciated and weak that it was barely fit to walk or stand. This is, without doubt, one of the worst cases of neglect I have ever seen.

“If the dog had not been found and brought to us, it wouldn’t have lived much longer.”

As well as being severely malnourished, the animal showed further signs of neglect, with an open sore clearly visible on its head.

SSPCA investigators believe that a man called David is responsible for the boxer’s horrifying condition.

They have received reports that the suspect had offered the dog for sale to a woman who lives in Mannering Road, Foxbar, Paisley.

She is believed to have met the mystery man in a pub in Paisley town centre and, when she revealed she was on the lookout for a boxer dog as a pet, he offered to sell her one.

The man later turned up at her house with the starving pooch and she was horrified to see the state it was in.

Inspector Wilson said: “The woman has told us that she was disgusted at the condition the dog was in, refused to hand over any money for it and basically told this man to leave or she would phone the police.

“The man had said his name is David and he is of stocky build, with dirty fair hair and was wearing jeans and a Nike T-shirt.

“We are very keen to trace that person or talk to anyone who can shed some light on his whereabouts or provide information on this particular dog and where it had been kept in recent times.

“This dog was in an horrific state. It was close to death.

“Anyone with information should contact us, even anonymously, so that we can bring the individual responsible to justice.

“It beggars belief that anyone could have tried to sell this poor animal for profit.”

If you have information, contact the SSPCA on 0300 099 9999 or call Andy Newport at the Express newsroom on 0141 847 8640.