A dog left cowering and shivering uncontrollably has been put down after being stabbed in the head with a sharp object.

The RSPCA believes the Jack Russell (similar to the one pictured left) may have been hit with a stiletto shoe, screwdriver or piece of wood with a nail in the end.

It was found by dog walkers at around 8am on Saturday, on the footpath at the junction of Bunkers Hill Road and Hillside Road in Dover.

They heard it crying in pain and found him cowering in the undergrowth. He was in severe shock, shivering uncontrollably and could have been there all night.

He was taken straight to a vet, who decided to put him to sleep because of his injuries.

RSPCA Inspector Julia Fuller said: “We don’t know what the weapon was, as it wasn’t found, but it caused a clean hole in the head so it may have been something like a stiletto shoe, a screwdriver or a piece of wood with a nail in the end.

“Two bloodstained patches of grass were found on the footpath about 5 metres away from where the dog was hiding.

“This was a brutal beating and we are appealing for any information which might lead us to the person who did this or the dog’s owner.”

The Jack Russell was an un-neutered male with a white coat and patches of tan fur on its rump and the tops of its ears. He was not microchipped.

If you have any information about the person who carried out this attack please contact our Cruelty Line on 0300 1234 999 and leave a message for Inspector Fuller.