THE neglected state of a chihuahua has prompted a warning for people not to parade their pets around in handbags just like celebrities such as Paris Hilton.

Neil Martin, manager at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, in Edenfield, slammed the owner of Camilla for treating her as a ‘fashion accessory’.

The three-year-old pet developed a severe skin disorder from being carried in a handbag, he said.

And he warned dog owners not to follow the celeb craze as it will cost thousands of pounds to treat her condition.

He said: “Camilla has been a designer pet and carried around in a handbag like you often see stars such as Paris Hilton doing.

“She has been treated like a fashion accessory then dumped because her owners could not be bothered to help her.

“Dogs are not meant to be carried around in a bag and do not learn to socialise if they are always hemmed in.

“Camilla is suffering from some sort of allergy which is causing her to lose her fur.

“Camilla is aggressive, but she couldn’t hurt a fly as she is so small but that behaviour has all come from being carried in a bag.”

Meanwhile Bubba, a three-year-old Dogue de Bordeaux, was found suffering from Demodectic Mange, in Nelson, by Pendle’s dog warden Laura Robinson.

She said: “It makes me really mad that instead of stamping out a small infection right at the start, some dog owners think it is a valid excuse to say they have no money to pay vet bills.”

Neil added: “Bubba’s breed of dog first came to mass recognition with the film Turner and Hooch.

"What I don’t understand is, why would someone pay £500 or £600 for a ‘trophy dog’ then let him get in this state?”

Demodectic Mange is a skin disease that’s easy to treat in the early stages, but if left, the dog’s immune system falters, leaving them susceptible to deadly infections.

Neil said: “Both the owners of Camilla and Bubba would have been looking at vet bills of around a £1,000 to treat their conditions.

"If they had given more care to start with, this could have been avoided.

The dogs will be treated then re-homed. Potential new owners for both dogs, call the sanctuary on 08422 570411.