Puppy is rescued after being left to die

Lennie Cleary was dropping off her recycling on an early morning this month when she heard the puppy squealing in a box next to the bottle bank at Tesco in Emscote Road.

She said: “It was very quiet in the car park and I could hear this persistent whimpering and squealing. I looked in the box and found the puppy shivering and in a terrible state. He was covered in matted faeces and fleas and although he had a blanket he had no food or water.”

Ms Clearly asked the staff at Tesco if they had known about the puppy, but no one in the supermarket had seen him.

She took him straight to Avonvale Veterinary Centre in Warwick, where senior vet Anita White said he was extremely dehydrated, hungry and riddled with fleas.

Ms Clearly said: “Anita estimated his age at about six weeks and of unknown breed. He has no tail and has a slightly deformed paw but otherwise he’s healthy and is making a good recovery from his ordeal.”

She decided to take the little dog home with her and named him Bobby, who is now happily sharing his new abode with three children and the family cat, Corky.

Ms Clearly said: “They are getting on well together and Bobby is turning into a delightful character – although he can be naughty at times.”

Anyone who finds an animal that has been treated badly or is in distress can call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.