Dog found dumped near canal mistaken for 'pile of rags'

A blind and deaf dog found dumped at the side of a canal had such badly matted fur a walker thought he was a 'pile of rags'.

After he realising he was a dog, the rescuer presumed he was dead as he was in such a sorry state.

The walker came across the shocking sight near the Ashton canal, at Portland basin, in Ashton-under-Lyne.

After a closer inspection, he could see the neglected dog, a Shih Tzu, named Morris, was breathing but couldn’t move from fear. He carried him home to help recuperate him before taking the dog to nearby vets on March 25. The vets reported the incident to the RSPCA.

Animal rescuer Inspector Ryan King rushed Morris to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for emergency veterinary treatment where staff immediately got to work to shave off 1.3 kilograms of matted fur, which was preventing him from moving.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

When the fur was shaved the staff realised he was blind in one eye and the other had so many cataracts he needed an operation. They were unable to save his sight.

Morris was then taken to the RSPCA Lancashire East Branch where he began his rehabilitation with their dedicated team. Once he was back to full health, staff set about trying to find a special home for the friendly pooch which would cater for his blindness.

His sad story thankfully took a happy turn. A few months later, pensioner Josephine Newhall, 82, from Wythenshawe, adopted him.

Josephine said: “Morris is a beautiful little dog and enjoys snuggling up to me on the settee - he is great company and when you think where he has come from it is a miracle he is still here.

“The RSPCA did a fantastic job in rescuing and rehabilitating