EVEN seasoned animal welfare workers were shocked when these two abandoned lurcher dogs arrived at their Dorset rescue centre.

Both had been dumped, starving and in pain and left to fend for themselves.

The pair - now named Vinnie and Ozzie- have fought back to health after a horrendous ordeal, experts at Margaret Green Animal Rescue say.

Ozzie needed one of his eyes removing and Vinnie's badly infected tail had to be amputated by vets.

Helen Chittock, manager at Margaret Green Animal Rescue's Lincoln Farm Centre for rescue dogs, said: "It was shocking to see the state of Vinnie and Ozzie were in when they arrived.

"Judging by their pressure sores, I would estimate they had been left without bedding and their muscle wastage suggests a serious lack of exercise.

"They are both extremely friendly and will jump on us for cuddles as soon as we get close to them. Neither of the dogs knew what toys were or what to do with them which was really sad."

Vinnie and Ozzie have started a rehabilitation programme at Margaret Green's Lincoln Farm Centre, Winterborne Kingston, Blandford.

Ozzie is now ready to find a permanent home, while Vinnie needs to stay at the centre a little while longer to fully recover from the trauma he's experienced.

A Margaret Green spokesman explained: "Staff at the charity were left shocked after seeing first-hand the neglect suffered by these two lurchers.

"The two dogs were both extremely underweight and were suffering from painful pressure sores which suggested they had been left without bedding or soft ground for a significant length of time.

"Their claws were so long that some had snapped off and both dogs were very underweight."

If you think you could give Ozzie a home, please contact the charity at their Lincoln Farm Centre for Rescued Dogs by emailing If@margaretgreenanimalrescue.org.uk or calling 01929 471340.