THE RSPCA is appealing for information after a large dog was found abandoned in the grounds of one of its animal centres.

Manager Julie Allen of Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, in Waddesdon, Aylesbury, was surprised to discover the mastiff tethered by a chain to a tree close to the entrance gates while opening up the centre last Thursday (February 2).

The dog, who had removed his muzzle, was partly hidden from view in a wooded copse on the centre’s land.

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He was in a healthy condition but because he was so agitated by his ordeal Ms Allen and the centre’s staff, helped by RSPCA chief inspector Rob Hartley, carefully handled him after they removed the chain to free him.

Staff have named him Woody because of where he was found and he is now being looked after at the centre’s kennels while his needs are assessed.

It is the second time in a fortnight that a dog has been abandoned at Blackberry Farm. On January 17, another large mastiff type dog was left in the animal centre’s car park by a motorist who told staff he could not afford to feed the canine or her offspring and then drove off.

Ms Allen said: “I was unlocking our front gates in the morning when I saw there were two black eyes looking out at me from the copse. Woody was lying at the bottom of the tree and growling at me.

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“We are not sure how his owner got onto our site and why they left the poor dog in this situation

“The chain was secured around his neck and we had to cut it off to free him. Thanks to the team work of our staff and the chief inspector we managed to calm him down and get a muzzle on him.

“The poor thing was very scared and he is now in one of our kennels recovering from what was a very frightening experience for him.

“We don’t know why Woody was abandoned, but the fact he had a chain and muzzle suggests he had been tethered in a garden or yard before being dumped on our site.”

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Staff at Blackberry Farm are also caring for the mastiff who was previously left who has since been named Cairo. He is spending time working with a dog behaviourist before he can be ready to be rehomed.

Anyone seeking to adopt a dog and who can offer a loving new home for Blackberry Farm’s canines can look here for those the centre is currently rehoming.