An emaciated dog which had been eating glass and bits of batteries has been described as the “thinnest dog ever seen alive” by the RSPCA.

Eric, a bull breed, was found in the yard of an empty council house in Accrington, Lancashire, by a member of the public.

He was unable to stand or lift his head, and every bone in his body could be seen through his fur.

RSPCA inspector Nina Small said Eric “had very overgrown nails and was absolutely covered in urine”.

His faeces contained “pieces of glass and metal as big as a 50p piece, and bits of batteries”.

She added: “I believe poor Eric has been confined somewhere out of sight, eating whatever he’s been able to get in his mouth – perhaps a garage or a shed.”

Ms Small has made local enquiries but no one appears to recognise Eric.

She said: “He isn’t microchipped – as is required by law – and has not been reported as a stray to the dog warden, so at the moment there is no way of tracing his owner.”

Eric has put on almost a kilo after being in hospital for a week and being placed on a recovery diet.

Ms Small added: “He’s now able to stand and can take a few steps, and it’s looking like he’s turned a corner, but he still has a long way to go.

“He’s just gone to a foster home where he is continuing to get the care he needs to hopefully continue to recover.”

Ms Small is looking for CCTV from the Ribblesdale Avenue area of Accrington – saying that Eric “did not get to this garden on his own”.

:: Anyone with information should call the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

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