AN ANIMAL charity has urged people who can no longer afford their pets to come to them for advice after a one-year-old dog with a suspected broken tail was dumped at an adoption centre entrance.

Staff at the Burford Blue Cross centre found the frightened Labrador cross tethered to their front gate at the side of the busy B4020 Shilton Road.

The dog, which has been nicknamed Badger, has been taken in for treatment and assessment and will then be offered for adoption.

But the Blue Cross said its job would have been made much easier had the owner formally handed over the pet.

Centre manager Nikki Smith said: “He was found during the day and he hadn’t been there long, but he was right by a busy road.

“He was clearly petrified and was surrounded by plenty of diarrhoea.

“He’s a very friendly and affectionate dog but he was very nervous and has had quite a lot of upset stomachs since he’s been here.

“His tail is also damaged so he’s going to need veterinary treatment.

“We would say to people who, due to the credit crunch, can’t afford their pets any more to come in and talk to us. There’s always something we can do.

“It’s so upsetting for the poor dog and it’s really difficult for us.

“We don’t know anything about him, so we have to start from scratch.

“We don’t know if he’s good with other dogs, what his favourite toys are or his favourite food.”

The Blue Cross, which has another centre in Lewknor, has seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of animals it has taken in during the current recession compared to last year, and a drop in the amount it receives through donations.

Every day this week, the charity is holding family fundraising events at the Burford centre in what the charity hopes will become an annual ‘Wag Week’ fundraiser.

Activities include staff dressing up as pets today and spending a night in the kennels with the animals on Friday.

To find out more about adopting from the Blue Cross, or to donate to Wag Week, call 01993 822651 or go to the website justgiving.com/burfordadoptioncentre tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk