A petrified terrier puppy found abandoned in a park has been re-homed by the Riverside Animal Centre.

The six-week old Jack Russell puppy, called Treacle, was found shivering and starving earlier last week in Carshalton Park by an early morning dog walker.

Despite its ordeal the young pup was soon back to full fitness thanks to staff at the Riverside Animal Centre’s hospital and rescue centre in Beddington Park.

Jackie Beer, of Riverside, said: “She was very lucky that somebody came along when they did. It goes without saying that dumping a puppy is incredibly cruel and unnecessary.

“Unfortunately we are seeing more and more family pets literally being abandoned by the roadside as families struggle to cope with the cost of looking after them.”

Riverside Animal Centre, part of the London Wildcare Trust, currently treats up to 4,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals and birds every year.

It also recently opened a separate ward for cats and small pets and a small number of short stay dog kennels.

Ted Burden, the charity’s founder, said: “We are using the experience we’ve gained over more than 10-years of providing 24-hour rescue assistance to wildlife in need to offer a specific range of services for pet animals.”

For more information visit riversideanimalcentre.org