An emaciated dog believed to have been kept for industrial breeding has been found wandering the streets of West Malling.

The mistreated French mastiff was found by Kent Police and taken to FRIEND Animal Sanctuary in East Peckham, where rescuers have been working round the clock to save her.

The sorry-looking Dogue de Bordeaux, renamed Darcy by the Bush Road sanctuary’s owners Mark and Marion Eaton, was so thin every one of her bones was visible. Such a breed should weigh about 50kgs, but Darcy was a pitiful 37kg when delivered to their door on Monday, October 13.

She has also lost much of her coat and is covered in sores.

Now the couple are appealing for donations to help with the vets bill which has already climbed to in excess of £280 to treat a range of conditions which indicate the scale of neglect the helpless hound endured.

Mr Eaton said: “As soon as the vet saw her, they asked if we wanted her put to sleep. Of course we said no.

“She was stolen, bred from industrially then dumped. This is going to be a long hard road - if she makes it - to heal her, for she is broken and we seriously hope not broken forever.”

To donate towards the vets bills, visit www.friendsanimalrescue.org.uk/donate.

It comes just days after the RSPCA revealed Kent has the highest number of abandoned animals in England and Wales outside of London.