A five-year-old dog was put down after being found abandoned with "open, weeping wounds" in Norfolk amid a record year of pet abandonments. 

The female bulldog was discovered by a member of the public in the garden of a property in Smeeth Road, Marshland St James earlier this year. 

After being taken to a vet for treatment, her condition was found to be too severe due to many cancerous tumours all over her body and she was put down to "end her suffering". 

Eastern Daily Press: A dog was found by the RSPCA abandoned with some of its hair shorn offA dog was found by the RSPCA abandoned with some of its hair shorn off (Image: RSPCA)

It comes as the number of pets that have been abandoned in Norfolk has reached a "shocking" three-year high, according to the RSPCA.

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Total reports in the region are expected to reach 303 this year, a 6.2pc rise since 2020.

And across the UK, the charity expects to receive 21,417 callouts in 2023, up a staggering 32.9pc from three years ago. 

Eastern Daily Press: A young spaniel was found abandoned earlier this yearA young spaniel was found abandoned earlier this year (Image: RSPCA)

Dermot Murphy, the RSPCA frontline rescue team leader, said: "The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm.

"We're desperately concerned about the coming winter months in Norfolk.

"Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis."