By Hayley Robinson

A dog tied up and abandoned on marshland could have died if there had been a high tide according to a council officer.

The young male American bulldog-cross was found by a member of the public tied to a bush on the shoreline off Raspberry Hill, between Iwade and Lower Halstow, on Thursday, November 11.

The resident took their own dog out on to the marshes to find the animal after hearing it barking for several days and realising it wasn't just someone out walking their dog.

Swale Borough Council is appealing for help to find the owner of the dog.

Tim Oxley, animal control officer for the council, said: "This is one of those really sad cases that make you very angry. The dog was tied to a low hawthorn bush. It would appear it had been deliberately left there and not just got itself caught up.

"It looks as if someone has abandoned this dog far enough from the main road so that it would not be seen by passing traffic. If it hadn't been found when it was, or there had been an unusually high tide, the dog would have probably died.

"To abandon any animal is an offence. If anyone recognises the dog, or has any information that could assist us with our investigations, please contact us"

Call 01795 417850.