A DOG has been found apparently dumped outside a Dundee shopping centre and in a distressing state.

The white English bull terrier was in such a bad way that the woman who found it outside Hyatts store in Happyhillock Road thought it was a victim of illegal dog fighting.

The dog—named Buddie by vets—was found with overgrown claws, red raw skin, cysts or tumours under its stomach and rectal prolax, meaning the rectum has slipped or fallen out of place.

It is now being nursed back to health at the SSPCA’s Petterden centre.

SSPCA inspector Robert Baldie said, “The dog was found on Monday evening at 6.30 on Happyhillock Road.

“A member of the public saw the state of the dog and she took it to Bell Street (Tayside Police headquarters).

“Its claws were seriously overgrown and it had a really bad skin infection.

“She thought it had been used for dog fighting.

“Its skin was red raw and it’s got tumours on different parts of its body.

“We’re appealing for help in tracing the owner.

“English bull terriers are quite rare in Dundee so we’re hoping somebody will know whose dog it is.”

Inspector Baldie said the dog’s claws being badly overgrown suggested it had “never been out” and also made him believe the dog was dumped.

“Being taken out regularly would wear down its claws,” he said.

Buddie was taken to Parkside Veterinary Group by police on Monday night and was treated by Melissa Spence at the Barnhill Surgery.

She gave Buddie antibiotics for the skin condition.

“We can’t say he has obviously been neglected, she said.

“Bull terriers are very prone to skin problems. We will need to trace the owner as it could be that the dog was on medication.

“He’s a good natured dog and very friendly.”

Yesterday he was being cared for at the SSPCA centre at Petterden where he was described as being in good spirits.

Centre manager Sharon Comrie said that although Buddie had been neglected medically he had not been starved.

“He has definitely been eating and has a strong body,” she said.