This sorry-looking pet, pictured, is Old English Sheepdog Rags.

His shaven body is almost unrecognisable from the matted and stinking mess handed to Bradford's dog warden service by a caring member of the public.

A vet had to give the dog a general aesthetic before he could cut away his filthy coat, revealing ugly sores underneath.

But despite being described as "the worse case of neglect" he had come across, Terry Singh, head of Bradford Council's dog warden service, said the animal was in surprisingly good health.

The service has linked up with the RSPCA to try to track down Rags' owner.

If they are unsuccessful, Rags will still have to go through intense rehabilitation training before he can be re-homed.

Mr Singh said: "The vet had to knock Rags out with an anaesthetic because his coat was too mangled to be dealt with by a normal dog-groomer.

"The goods news is that once the vet had shaved off his hair, there wasn't too much wrong with Rags physically.

"Unfortunately when he came round and the vet started to stroke him, Rags began snarling and bared his teeth and tried to bite him and a dog warden.

"Obviously he is more damaged psychologically than we at first thought.

"It could be that he was used as a guard dog before he was abandoned and his temperament reflects the fact that he is not used to being handled.We'd have to liaise with the RSPCA and rehabilitate him before he could be re-homed."

A woman found Rags on Monday morning in Brookfield Road near Barkerend roundabout.

RSPCA spokesman Heather Holmes said: "If this animal has been caused unnecessary suffering and we can find an owner then we will prosecute."

Anyone who knows Rags' owner or where he was kept should call the Dog Warden Service on (01274) 753927.