A DOG has had to be put down by Swindon Council after it was found abandoned in a terrible state.

Others, though, have recovered and are now available to good homes.

The council was called to an elderly terrier who was found near Blunsdon. Named Fonzi by the animal welfare team, he had lost half his body weight and his coat was matted with faeces. He was also covered in fleas and nearly died due to a severe case of anaemia.

However, Fonzi was caught in time and is now making a good recovery at the Blue Cross animal rehoming centre in Burford.

And Tomtom, a Staffordshire bull terrier who lost more than half his body weight after being neglected by his owner earlier this year, has made a full recovery and is now looking for a home with the Blue Cross. The council has been unable to trace his previous owner.

“Some of the dogs we are picking up are in a terrible condition and the subject of horrendous neglect,” said Alison Waine, Swindon Council’s environmental protection officer.

“We have seen a spate of similar cases in recent months and we are keen to trace the owners of these dogs as we will prosecute them if we can.”

Most recently a male Staffordshire bull terrier, named Trevor by council officers, had to be destroyed after suffering from severe mange.

The skin disease, caused by parasitic mites, left the animal suffering greatly and after he failed to respond to treatment, officers decided to put Trevor, who was found in Liddington on March 9, out of his misery.

Alison said: “The mange caused him to literally scratch himself raw. He would have been in this painful state for probably years.

“We had a rescue space lined up for him with the Blue Cross and were hopeful initially that he might make a good recovery. He was still very friendly and loving despite his pain.

“Sadly he did not respond well to treatment and after discussion with the vet we decided that we had no option but to have him destroyed on welfare grounds.”

In the same week the animal welfare team were called to an elderly Rottweiler, Doris, who was found near Shrivenham Road with multiple tumours and a large tumour hanging from her leg that was the size of a grapefruit.

Alison said: “The tumour was left untreated and it is thought that it is likely to have grown over a number of years. She has been found a place at the National Animal Welfare Trust.”

Anyone with information on where any of the dogs may have come from can call the council in confidence on 01793 445500.

Anyone interested in adopting Fonzi or Tomtom should call the Blue Cross on 0300 7771570.