A dog found abandoned in the street has been put down due to the extent of her illness and suffering.

The Labrador, which has been named Bonnie by the Swale dog warden, was found as a stray around Sittingbourne.

The dog warden service, which is run by Swale council, is desperately seeking her owners as the poor pooch, discovered in Homestall Road, wasn't chipped and didn't have a collar.

Bonnie had been taken under the care of a vet due to her dire condition and the tough decision about whether to end her life had been discussed in order to ease her suffering.

In a statement, the dog warden said: "We don’t want this turning into a witch hunt.

"Neither ourselves or the vet know what has caused these injuries, so please think twice before passing judgment."

The warden confirmed legislation would be followed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The Act states if a veterinary surgeon certifies the condition of a protected animal, such as a dog, is such that it should in its own interests be destroyed.

A council spokesman confirmed this afternoon the "difficult decision" to put down Bonnie had been made.

They said: “Bonnie was a black lab who was found in Homestall Road in Doddington this morning by passers by who saw her condition and took her straight to Lady Dane Vets in Faversham.

“Bonnie’s lungs, heart and liver were failing, and she was having difficulty breathing. She had large, ruptured mammary tumours that were surrounded by dead, black skin that had rotted away. Her teeth were also rotted away making it hard to identify her age.

“We usually have a seven day holding period when we pick up a stray dog, however, following consultation with the vet, it was clear that Bonnie was near death and wouldn’t last the seven days or recover.

“We stayed with Bonnie to comfort her during the procedure, she was a very gentle and loving dog.

“We want to thank the people who found Bonnie and rushed her to the vets, and the staff at Lady Dane Vets for their help."

If you recognise this dog, please contact the council on 01795 417850.