It was an act of animal cruelty that shocked the local community.

In February three small dogs, thought to have been used for breeding, were abandoned near Biggar, while suffering from painful skin conditions.

Now a Borders pet groomer is fundraising to help towards the animals’ care costs at the Scottish SPCA, who rescued them from Station Road in Abington.

Sheila MacKenzie, owner of Earlston-based Border Groomers, said: “I bought the Peeblesshire News and noticed the SSPCA photo depicting one of the dogs found near Biggar.

“For me it was very distressing and I would like like to help towards their costs. I don’t have a specific target - I will put the picture up in my salon along with a collecting box and for every groom I do for the next two months I will donate a pound.

“It has shocked me, what people do. As a groomer I sometimes see dogs coming in in a bad state, but I’ve never seen anything like this.

“I think it’s pretty disgraceful that dogs can be left to get into such a state.” The male and two female lhasa apso or shih-tzu type dogs are now receiving the care and veterinary treatment they need at the Scottish SPCA’s Lanarkshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Hamilton.