A DYING dog was discovered in a remote lorry depot with broken bones and weighing less than half the weight it should be.

The 18-month old lurcher/whippet cross, which has now been named Peanut, was discovered near Station Road, East Tilbury, by a parked lorry driver on Tuesday.

She was found collapsed under some bushes and had an untreated broken pelvis, fractured femur and dislocated hip.

The dog is now in intensive care and the RSPCA is appealing for information to find out who is responsible for her mistreatment.

She was emaciated - less than half the weight she should have been - and had untreated injuries including a fractured femur, broken pelvis and dislocated hip which the vet says she is likely to have suffered with for many months.

Peanut was also covered in wounds and in an extremely weak state.

The RSPCA was called after a lorry driver spotted her by a ditch and took her to nearby Catley Cross vets where she is receiving emergency treatment.

RSPCA animal collection officer Rebecca Yarrow said: “Poor Peanut was found curled in the shrubbery in this random spot in the middle of nowhere, emaciated and injured and very, very scared.

“She was so weak and skinny she could barely stand and she weighed just 6.8 kgs - the size of a large adult cat. This is half of the 15-17 kilos the vet said most lurchers her size should weigh.

“We don’t know how she came to be in such an out-of-the-way place but it seems likely she was dumped and just left to suffer - perhaps by someone unwilling to pay the vet fees needed to treat her broken bones. The vet said she would have been suffering with her untreated injuries for several months and must have been in so much pain.

“She was spotted by chance by this passing lorry driver - I have no doubt she would have been dead within another 24 hours had she not been found. He tried to give her water but she was too weak to drink, he said, then he tried to coax her out with a peanut packet - which she has now been named after.”

Ms Yarrow added: “She is such a lovely, friendly dog it is heart breaking to see her have to go through something like this. She is by far the skinniest living animal I have ever seen.

“It is still touch and go at the vets but they are doing all they can to try and save her and feeding her a spoonful of food at a time. She is now standing - we have yet to encourage her to wag her tail.”

Peanut was wearing a brown, tatty, broken collar when found and was not microchipped. Anyone who may recognise this dog or have any further information that will help the RSPCA with its investigation should call 0300 123 8018, in complete confidence.

The RSPCA is a charity and relies on public donations to exist. To assist inspectors in carrying out their vital work please text HELP to 78866 to give £3 (Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message).