Dog tied to a tree and abandoned just around the corner from a Hampshire RSPCA shelter '“ regionalÂ

Bruce, a dogue de bordeaux cross rottweiler, had been left carelessly tied up to a tree and left to fend for himself.

It is unknown how long he was there before another dog walker saw him and contacted the animal welfare charity.

Officers from the RSPCA Ashley Heath Animal Centre in Ringwood said Bruce was 'very scared and shaking' when they found him.

Now they have launched an investigation trying to find Bruce's owner.

RSPCA inspector Jo Story said: '˜Bruce has a microchip but the details are not up to date so we do not know if he has previously been lost, or perhaps even stolen.

'˜He was very scared and shaking when he was first found, with no sign of an owner around.

'˜We're not sure how long he was there as people could have driven by and not seen him. It was a dog who noticed him first and alerted its owner.

'˜We understand he is 16 months old and was most recently re-homed along with his sister to a woman in Bournemouth around four months ago, however we have been struggling to get in touch with them.

'˜We're really keen to hear from anyone who recognises Bruce, knows where he came from, or who knows how he came to be left alone.

'˜He's very affectionate and enjoys attention. He is a lovely dog.'