The RSPCA is appealing for information after a dog was found dumped on a street in Welwyn Garden City in such a bad state that she was described as "dead from the waist down".

The female brindle Staffordshire bull terrier was found wandering around the Longlands Road area by a member of the public on Saturday and taken to a nearby vet.

She was in an extremely poor state of health - underweight and with disabled back legs which made it very difficult for her to walk. The vet had no option than to destroy the dog.

RSPCA inspector Stephanie Law said: "It is just so callous to leave such a clearly disabled dog to roam the streets alone.

"The poor thing must have been dragging herself around, as her rear end was completely wasted of muscle and her back legs didn't work. She was pretty much dead from the waist down.

"The claws and pads on her back feet had been completely worn away and were red raw; she had no fur on her underside, back end or tail; and her the skin is like leather - so this wasn’t a new injury or disability. 

"She had a lovely friendly nature and she would not have ran away on her own due to her limited mobility, so someone must know something.

"I urge anyone with any information about how this poor animal was left to suffer like this to come forward and let us know on 0300 123 8018."

The dog was not chipped but was wearing a black collar with paw prints on but had no tag.