A starving dog was tied up and abandoned outside a pub in freezing conditions.

The RSPCA has released CCTV footage of the moment two women tied up and left the “severely emaciated” rottweiler outside the Crown Hotel in Littlehampton.

An RSPCA inspector described the animal, later named Hero by pub staff, as one of the thinnest dogs he had seen, as the charity appealed for help to catch the pair.

The dog weighed less than half his normal body weight when he was abandoned by the women, one of whom was believed to be heavily pregnant.

Will Jenkins, who lives in a flat above the pub, raised the alarm at around 8.30pm last Wednesday when he heard a dog barking in the courtyard at the back of the pub.

He said: “It was just after 8pm and at first I just thought it was a dog belonging to one of the regulars.

“It was only about 25 minutes later when I went to take my own dog for a walk when I spotted it.

“At first I didn't realise the condition it was in and I went into the pub to ask who owned it as it was a cold night.

'Awful condition'

“It was soon clear it didn’t belong to anyone and when I went back I saw the awful condition it was in.


“I’ve never seen a dog in such a bad condition before.

“It was awful.

“We immediately got in contact with the RSPCA and dug out the CCTV footage. Hopefully they will be able to trace the owners.”

Inspector Tony Pritchard rescued the animal and took him to a vet where he is being cared for.

He said: “This poor dog was completely emaciated, one of the thinnest dogs I have seen.

“A male adult Rottweiler should weigh 50-60 kilos.

“This dog weighed just 22 kilos. He was simply starving and now all he wants to do is eat.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.

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