A MISTREATED dog found abandoned in an Accrington house was reunited with his owner – and given away the next day.

The dog, which is thought to be around 11 years old, was rescued by Councillor Paul Barton and neighbours when they forced their way into the house in Wilfred Street, Woodnook.

Councillor Barton, who represents Barnfield ward and lives on Maple Drive, Oswaldtwistle, dashed to the address after receiving a number of calls from nearby residents who had heard the dog howling and whining over the previous few nights.

He said: "I looked through the letter box and I could see it wasn’t so good. I went around the back and got the dog out.

"He had no food, no water, nothing. It’s really upset me and it’s upset the neighbours as well. They had been keeping an eye out to see if anyone came back to the house that week.

"He’s a lovely dog but he had been very badly treated. He was very reluctant to come to me at first and was very frightened."

The RSPCA was called and the animal was taken to the Altham shelter the following morning. Officers traced the dog’s owner in Blackburn by scanning his microchip.

The dog and his owner were reunited on Monday but when Councillor Barton took food around to the house on Tuesday the man said he didn’t want the animal.

He explained that he had previously given him to someone to look after.

Councillor Barton said: "It’s so sad that he wasn’t wanted so I took him home. I’ve already got two rescue dogs but I’ll keep him unless I can find a good home for him.

"He’s a grand dog and he’s getting a lot of love and attention. That’s all he wanted.

"He’s definitely been mistreated. It looks as though he has iron marks on the back of his neck and he’s quite badly scarred on his tail.

"If you move in a certain way he backs into a corner. But he’s starting to learn that he’s safe now."

Leanne Goacher, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA, said the charity had launched an investigation.

But when asked about the dog living with Councillor Barton, she said: "This is the first we have heard of this. The inspector will be making contact with the councillor shortly to see if he needs any assistance rehoming the animal."