Folkestone dumped dog highlights Kent's shameful animal cruelty record

A Labrador-cross has been found abandoned in a dog exercise area in Radnor Park, Folkestone. He was caught by daybreak and taken to kennels from where he will be either re-united with his owners or found a new home.

The dog is around 2 years old and is taller and slimmer than a purebred labrador. He has a narrow streak of white on his chest. He is very anxious and appears frightened of men.

Local resident and Lib Dem campaigner Maureen Kincaid Speller was one of the first on the scene after hearing the dog barking in the dog exercise area in the evening of the 19th July, but was relieved to see the dog warden was already on the scene. Maureen said:

"The dog sounded really distressed - dumping a dog in that way is a disgrace. At the very least if the owner had decided they could no longer look after their pet, they should have contacted an animal charity, not just abandon it.

Pet owner Maureen added:

"Kent is one of the worst-offending counties in England and Wales with the RSPCA, naming Kent as joint-seventh in a list of 59, with 39 people convicted of a total of 84 animal cruelty offences in 2007. People need to really think hard about whether they can give their pet a happy home."