A TEENAGER who went to retrieve a football found an abandoned dog which had been beaten and left for dead.

The six-month-old jack russell/border collie cross, named Dandy, was saved after a the boy, 15, heard whimpers coming from derelict property in Cavendish Street, Darwen.

Tina Buckley, who works for a washer rental company in Darwen, heard the story when she visited the rescuer's home.

She said: "I've worked with animals and taken them in to my home for as long as I can remember and this dog was in a terrible state.

"The boy brought him over and the dog was whimpering and clearly badly injured. It looked like somebody had dumped him and left him to die after beating him up. We found his leg had been broken for months, he was underfed and had been sleeping in his own vomit and mess for days. It was disgusting.

"We called the RSPCA but they didn't consider it to be their problem."

A spokesman for the RSPCA said that under stray-dog legislation it would be illegal for them to retrieve Dandy.

He said: "The first port of call for people who find strays is the local authority dog warden, then the police.

"We do make exceptions where dogs are in imminent danger or if they are close to death but this was not one of those times."

After being treated at a vet's, the dog was taken to Bolton Pet Re-home.

Kathy Walton, from the sanctuary, said: "X-rays revealed his leg was seriously damaged and we were told he needed a big operation because the damage was so extensive. He had to have his leg amputated."

The RSPCA spokesman added: "We would urge dog-owners to get their animals microchipped so we can identify them more easily and take them off the streets quicker."

Anyone wishing to help the volunteers raise £1,000 for the surgery on Dandy should contact the home at 31 Oaks Lane, Bradshaw, Bolton.