A dog is receiving treatment after being discovered by the side of a road.

Buddy, a West Highland terrier, was found lying on the pavement near Ruthin Close, Barnet, earlier this month.

When Jill Sanders, an animal collection officer for the RSPCA, arrived, she found him in a poor state. He was suffering from a severe skin condition that had left him with hair loss and itchy, scarred skin.

Buddy, as RSPCA staff have called him, was taken to the RSPCA's Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital. It was found that he was suffering from atopic dermatitis, a skin problem that is common in Westies.

Jill Sanders said: "This little Westie is so friendly, when I found him he was so affectionate despite being in such a poor condition.

"He had no collar, tag or microchip and we don't know if he was abandoned or if he has an owner out there somewhere. I hope that he wasn't just dumped as you would hope that a loving owner would have got treatment for him and looked after him when he needed them instead of just leaving him alone like this."

Extensive efforts to find his owner have been made, but no one has come forward.

Buddy, who is thought to be aged five, is still receiving treatment at Harmsworth for his skin disease and will need daily medication for the rest of his life to manage the condition. If his owner is not found he already has a prospective new home with a member of staff.

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA's inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.