A TINY five-week-old puppy dumped in a bin and left to die has found a new home.

Dogs Trust Basildon took in the puppy after a dog warden discovered it in a bin, underweight, with hair loss and inflamed itchy skin.

The vet team named him Dusty, carried out a number of tests to determine what the skin condition was, and helped make him healthy before the search for a home began.

Lisa Cooper, Dogs Trust Basildon’s rehoming centre manager, said: “Poor Dusty came to us in such a terrible state and at such a tender age.

“Because he was so young and had been through such a traumatic time we gave him lots of positive experiences, like toys to play with and we also started taking him on ‘carry walks’ around the rehoming centre as he grew healthier, so that he could start to get used to sights and sounds.

“Thankfully before long the world wasn’t such a scary place to Dusty anymore and he’s grown stronger week by week.

“That balding, unhappy little pooch is long gone.

“His favourite things at the centre included playing in our outdoor puppy playpen and he even made a few doggy friends.”

She added: “People need to give up dogs for all kinds of reasons but there is absolutely no need to throw a dog away like rubbish.

“Rehoming centres like Dogs Trust can help. We understand that unexpected litters can be too much, or that people’s circumstances may change. Whatever the reason, we’re only a phone call away.”

Martin Brett, from Wickford, was delighted to adopt Dusty.

He said: “It’s so sad that anybody could leave Dusty in the condition that they did.

“My sincere thanks to Dogs Trust for helping Dusty get back on his paws and allowing me to make sure the rest of his days are nothing like the start he had in life.

“He’s a wonderful boy and I’m besotted with him already.”

If you’d be interested in giving a Dogs Trust resident a second chance at happiness or are thinking about giving up a dog please contact Dogs Trust Basildon on 0300 303 0292.