COLD, wet and petrified, this poor dog was left tied to a railing at the RSPCA shop in Stroud.

Staff at the Lansdown charity shop found the female border collie when they arrived at work at 9am on Tuesday, February 18.

The dog was suffering with a skin complaint and had scratched an area of her fur off because she was so distressed.

Shop manager Andy Taylor said: "She was petrified, we couldn't get close to her.

"A towel had put been down and it was soaking wet, which suggests the dog had been tied up for several hours.

"She is a lovely dog, absolutely gorgeous.

"All she needed was some flea treatment."

A vet from the shop's adjacent clinic put down some food, water and a blanket while a call was made to Stroud District Council's animal welfare officers.

They collected the dog and took her to Clockhouse Vets where she was given treatment for the flea allergy.

Alexandra Myrie, SDC's animal welfare officer, said the dog is now being cared for at the council's holding kennels.

June Edgar, administrator for the RSPCA South Cotswolds Branch, said: "Animals are left on our doorstep a couple of times a year.

"It would be so much easier if we could step in before that stage and maybe help owners stay with their pets.

"If people are struggling please come and talk to us.

"We have limited space to shelter animals and would prioritise people in difficult circumstances.

"Maybe this owner couldn't afford to feed the dog or pay for flea treatment or maybe they were moving accommodation.

"The dog had no ID tag and we have no medical history.

"We know nothing about her or her preferences which makes it even more distressing for the dog."

The South Cotswold branch of the RSPCA has launched fundraising appeal to build a state-of-the-art dog and cat centre in the Stroud district to look after abandoned animals.

The £2.5million Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home will occupy a six-acre site just outside Cam and will enable the charity to care for around 750 vulnerable animals each year.

Donate online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CotswoldsDogsandCatsHome