A FEMALE dog had to be put down after it was found with an awful open wound on the base of her tail after she had been abandoned by her owner.

The adult boxer-cross was handed into the East Lancashire RSPCA branch, in Accrington, by two men who said they found her abandoned.

The dog had tumours in her mouth and a 'hideous' wound at the back of her body.

RSPCA officers have now started an investigation and are looking to find out more information about the dog, which had to be put to sleep as there was nothing vets could do for her.

Investigating officer Demi Hodby said: "This poor girl had an absolutely hideous open wound on the base of her tail.

"Vets suspect it had been a tumour that had ulcerated before bursting and getting infected - it had obviously been this way - untreated - for some time.

"She also had a number of tumours in her mouth. She must have been in so much pain.

"Unfortunately, vets determined that there was nothing they could do to help her and made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep."

Staff believe the white dog was an older female.

She arrived wearing a leather and metal harness but was wearing no identification and was not microchipped.

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Ms Hodby said: "I'm appealing to the public to contact us if they recognise this dog or if they know someone who owned a similar dog in the local area.

"I'd also like to hear from anyone who saw a dog matching her description with a wound like this - it was so huge and horrible that it would be impossible to miss."

Anyone who has any information is asked to call the RSPCA helpline on 0300 123 8018.