A dog was abandoned in a cage next to a “heartbreaking” note asking anyone to: “Please feed and take care of me.”
The young male spaniel named Rudy, who has a leg deformity, was found by a member of the public and rescued by the RSPCA.
Another dog, a black terrier, escaped from the cage and disappeared.
The two dogs had been left on the side of a road in a broken cage in Oxfordshire on May 4.
The animals were found next to a note that read: “Please feed and take care of me. My owner is struggling to take care of me.”
RSPCA Inspector Stephanie Law of the animal welfare charity said: “We were contacted by a member of the public who had found two dogs in a cage on the side of a road between Northmoor and Stanford Harcourt.
“Next to this dog, who has been named Rudy by the team that cares for him, was a second dog, a black terrier, who escaped from the ramshackle cage when the public who found them tried to pick up the
“Unfortunately we have been unable to locate the second dog and have notified the dog warden in the hope that the dog will be brought in as a stray.
“If anyone knows where this dog is or has any information about who abandoned these poor dogs, we encourage them to contact us.”
Mrs Law added: “It is really upsetting that these dogs have been abandoned along with this note.
“We know times are tough right now. We’re doing everything we can to help keep pets in loving homes whenever possible.
“We are asking people not to abandon animals and encourage anyone who is struggling to seek help.”
The charity urged pet owners to seek help before they let problems escalate.
It has opened a telephone helpline to support people and said practical help can be found at its newly launched cost of living centre.
