Charlie the boxer has now been taken to an animal rescue centre

The animal, who is believed to have been locked up and abandoned, was handed in at Rhyl police station by local authority dog wardens on Tuesday.

Emaciated, covered in mange and with overgrown claws, Charlie was a "scared and pitiful sight," says the RSPCA.

The animal charity is now trying to find who abandoned the boxer.

The RSPCA's inspector in Flintshire, Fred Armstrong, said he had been called to examine the dog - dubbed Charlie by rescuers - who is now recovering at the North Clwyd Animal Rescue Centre at Trelogan near Prestatyn.

"I was really quite shocked to see him. He was in an appalling state," said Mr Armstrong.

This is wanton cruelty RSPCA inspector Fred Armstrong

The boxer was an adult dog which had sufferred appallingly, he said.

"He was extremely thin and he had a very serious case of mange, the skin condition which causes a lot of suffering to dogs."

Mr Armstrong said the animal's hind leg had probably been amputated professionally by a vet at an earlier stage - maybe following an accident.

"Because his claws were very long it suggested that he had been shut away for some time with no exercise, maybe in a shed".

Cases of animal abuse like that handed out to Charlie were not seen that often by animal welfare inspectors, added Mr Armstrong. Those responsible could expect punishment under the law if they were discovered.

Pitiful

"This is wanton cruelty. For that reason we're looking to contact them with a view to take action."

However, Charlie is expected to recover.

"The outlook will be good for him. The skin condition is one that can be treated quite easily.

"While at the moment he looks extremely scared and pitiful, in a few weeks I expect he'll be happy again," Mr Armstrong said.

Anyone with information about Charlie can contact the RSPCA national helpline on 0870 5555999.