ANIMAL welfare officers have appealed for help to trace the owner of a dead dog, the body of which was found abandoned on the outskirts of Keighley.

The body of the male, white and brindle medium cross breed dog, who had not been neutered, was found by a member of the public dumped in Back Lane, Laycock, on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said the dog was wearing a green collar with silver studs on it and had been wrapped inside a pink coloured duvet.

She added: "He was well fed but had ingrown nails which looked infected, so clearly he had not been walked and not received any vet treatment.

"He hadn't been dead for that long, probably only a matter of about 48 hours.

"Someone had obviously tried to hide the fact he'd been left there, because he was wrapped in a duvet which was tied up with a washing line.

"This may have been done because the owner didn't want to take the dog to a vet, as the vet would have realised how badly neglected it was."

Anyone with information can call 03001 234999 to get in touch with the RSPCA.