Animal welfare officers are searching for owners who "neglected" and abandoned an injured Border Collie.
The dog, who has since been named Wilson, was found on the A68, between Slaley, in Northumberland, and Kiln Pit Hill, in County Durham, in a "poor condition".
The middle aged stray had been "running scared" around the area on August 18, officers at Northumberland County Counci l say, and was picked up by a worried member of the public.
He was taken to a vet in Stocksfield to be cared for, and found to be underweight with "wounds to his neck and face".
Severely matted and not microchipped, Wilson was also suffering from a swollen mouth and jaw, which still requires treatment.
He was taken to Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels where he is being cared for and nursed back to health.
And now a search has been launched for whoever left him suffering in this condition.
An animal welfare officer from Northumberland County Council said: “This dog has been neglected and is in very poor condition.
"Someone, somewhere knows who he belongs to, or has seen him about. We want to get to the bottom of why he was abandoned and bring the person(s) responsible to account.
"If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact the Animal Welfare Team on 0345 600 6400 or by email to Animal.Welfare@northumberland.gov.uk in the strictest of confidence."
