THE RSPCA is on a mission to find the 'callous' owners of a skeletal six-week-old puppy that was dumped in a supermarket car park.

A passer-by was horrified to find the female springer spaniel or pointer crossbreed starving and 'absolutely terrified' cagged in a cat carrier at Tesco Extra on Derby Street, Leigh.

As well as being grossly underweight, the puppy – who has since been named Lilian – was also dehydrated and the RSPCA is appealing for anyone who knows her or her owners to come forward.

RSPCA inspector Helen Smith said: “Poor Lilian was absolutely terrified when she was found and, although she is learning to trust people now, she is still a little scared of everything.

“She was not in a good way when she was found but thankfully she is on the road to recovery.

“It must have been very scary and distressing for her to have been dumped in the callous way that she was.

“We do not know for certain how long she was there for before she was found, but she would have been very vulnerable out there on her own.”

Lilian, who is now in a foster home and will soon be available for permanent rehoming, was found on August 10 and the RSPCA is hoping that someone will be able to recognise the cat carrier she was in as it has distinctive stickers of flies on the top of it.

Recently released figures from the RSPCA show that pets are more likely to be abandoned during the summer months, with one animal being dumped every hour in June, July and August.

Inspector Smith says it is important for people to get their pets neutered to avoid unwanted litters.

“Every year the RSPCA sees an increase in the number of young animals that come into our care at this time of year after unplanned pregnancies result in unwanted litters, which is why we always advise people to get their pets neutered,” she said.

Anyone with any information about Lilian or her owners is urged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.