A MALNOURISHED dog survived against the odds after eating plastic bags, foil and other rubbish.

Dog wardens think that the dog, who they have named Buddy, was so hungry he ate the items because they once contained food.

Luckily he regurgitated the plastic, which could otherwise have killed him, and he is now recovering at an RSPCA centre.

The Jack Russell Terrier was found in The Witterings by a member of the public last Wednesday, and it is not known whether he was abandoned or became separated from his owners by accident.

RSPCA staff centre described him as “the sweetest little thing, and very friendly”, but said he needs to be monitored carefully in case any rubbish he has eaten remains inside his body.

Buddy will be kept at the RSPCA centre and if his owners do not come forward within seven days he will be put up for adoption.

However before he looks for a home, staff are keen to ensure that there are no foreign objects in his body, and he may have to be x-rayed.

Viv Magrath, dog warden at Chichester District Council, said: “It is incredibly upsetting to see a dog in such a severely neglected condition.

“This dog may have been abandoned, or he may have become lost. If people can no longer care for a dog there are many options available to them, including the RSPCA, the Dog’s Trust or even contacting us.

“There really isn’t any excuse for abandoning a dog.”

She added that all dogs should be micro-chipped, so if they get lost they can be returned to their owners quickly and easily.