Dogsey

An elderly Staffordshire bull terrier (SBT), thought to be around 10-years-old, was found abandoned in the dark in a Croydon graveyard. The dog, who is in poor health, had a heavy metal chain around his neck and was tied with only around 3 feet of washing line, allowing him very little room to move. The person who found him firmly believes he was left to die.

The dog was found in Croydon Crematorium by dog walker Christine Doré. She described hearing “terrible hoarse cries” and when she investigated she spotted his face, illuminated by the light of her torch, through a hedgerow at the end of the cemetery. The frightened dog had been hidden away behind gravestones and hedgerows. “Where he was left he wasn't meant to be found,” said his rescuer.

Christine described the dog as having a bloodshot eye, very long claws, a lump on one side and problems with rear leg coordination. She said that he is unable to keep both back feet on the ground simultaneously and keeps having to lift them “like a puppet”.

The SBT was collected by Croydon Council's dog warden and will become council property if not claimed within seven days, at which point he will be behaviourally assessed with a view to finding him a new home through rescue organisations.

Despite the little dog's ordeal, Christine described him as trusting, loving and sweet.