A frightened dog was tied to a park bench overnight and dumped by its cowardly owner

The Akita dog was frightened and traumatised when it was found alone by a park bench early in the morning. The poor pooch has likely spent the whole night outdoors in a blistering December cold. The RSPCA says the number of abandoned pets is rising as the cost of living crisis deepens.

‘We fear she had been outside all night’

A member of the public came across the female Akita dog when they were walking in Shaftesbury Park in Derby, England days before Christmas.

The pooch has been tied up to a bench with a rope and abandoned in the cold. She was ‘wet through’, hungry and thirsty. A kindhearted rescuer stepped in to save the pup.

According to RSPCA inspector Ann Bennett, the charity fears the dog had been outside all night.

She commented:

Food and water were provided in bowls by a member of the public and she was very thirsty and hungry. She must have been so very cold and frightened on her own all night.

The pet wasn't microchipped and there was no way to locate her irresponsible owner.

Read more:

⋙ A starving dog ‘with every bone visible’ was locked up in the filth by its cruel owner

More and more people abandon their pets

The RSPCA says calls to the charity regarding abandoned pets have risen as the cost of living crisis worsens. An appeal has now been launched for information about the Akita pooch. They are hoping to find out what led to her being left and if she was deliberately abandoned.

Bennett added:

Sadly calls to the RSPCA about abandonment and neglect have risen as the cost of living crisis bites, and with more people struggling, we sadly expect to be dealing with more incidents like this over the coming months.

The charity is providing dedicated cost-of-living support for worried pet owners, with a recently-opened telephone helpline on 0300 123 0650, an online hub, and a lot of practical tips and advice.

To join the Winter Rescue appeal and help the RSPCA team help animals in need, visit the charity's website.

Read more:

⋙ Anger as a bald traumatised dog was 'discarded' by an ‘isolated’ quarry

⋙ Shelter’s heartbreak over an injured and suffering dog dumped on a festive night

Sources used:

- Derbyshire Live: 'Dog found abandoned, wet through and hungry in Derby park'