Long story, here goes:
I was off sick from work yesterday after suffering a nasty migraine, had had enough and went to see my GP.
On my way I stopped at my little local shop to grab some milk, and saw outside the shop tied up a curled up ball of very large Stafford...
I went into the shop and asked who the dog belonged to and was he ok?
The lady behind the counter said that he had been found by the postman at 4.30am wandering in the park opposite with his harness and lead on, the postman took the dog straight to the shop as he knew it was the only place with people around at that time in the morning.  The shop owners called the police as they were worried (because of the lead and harness still being on) that perhaps an elderly owner had collapsed or was injured somewhere.  The police weren't interested and told them to call the dog warden.
Dog warden was called and a message left for him to respond to when he got into the office at 9am.
I was at the shop at 8.30am, the poor lad was shaking, whining, very skinny, bloody claws, bald infected patches all over him (particularly his bum end). 
I asked the shop owners to call the dog warden again, they were told he was on his way.
I stayed with the lad, didn't have the heart to leave him...
We gave him something to eat (nearly had our hands off!lol)
Lots of mums and people passed by - I felt they were looking at me as if he were my dog, but I told them his story.  There are some lovely people out there - one lady went to her home and brought him a blanket.  Another couple took photo's of him, in case he was not microchipped and they could then have put signs up around the area.
Anyway, finally at 10.30am the dog warden turned up - recognised the dog straight away, but scanned him to make sure.
Sure enough, he was / is microchipped, belongs to a chap on a new housing estate nearby, but apparently the dog doesn't live there, he is being 'looked after' by someone on another housing estate not too far away.
I impressed upon the dog warden that if they call this 'looking after' then they have a pretty poor idea of what that should be - could he make sure that they are told in no uncertain terms that this dog needs looking after better.  He said that the dog had escaped before and as he did seem to be in a bit of a state, he would be calling the RSPCA once the dog had been returned to whichever household wanted him this time around.
That poor little man deserves better surely?
Despite the fact that he obviously didn't feel very well, he was so happy to see people.
So my message is - people of Witham, Essex, beware, I know the estate where this dog supposedly lives, and if I see this poor lad looking anything other than the spectacular animal he should be I will be taking it further.
Fingers crossed that this lad one day gets the love and nurtering he deserves.

By the sound of his condition, wouldn't it have been better to have called the RSPCA? Just in case they decided to attend.......I wonder if the dog warden will bother them. What a shame, poor dog, he was lucky to have the bit of love and attention you could give him, and the kind people you spoke to. Maybe a call to the RSPCA would help him, after all they can find out from the dog warden who owns this dog, maybe give the owner a kick in the proverbals to look after it better.

hiya Calmstorm, yes my first call if I had found him would have been to the RSPCA for sure, and unfortunately I don't know the exact address of either the owner or whomever is supposed to be caring for him.
Had I known either, I would definitely have called them first.
I didn't want to (though tempting) walk away with him, but you're absolutely right - I will give them a call anyway and see if they can get in touch with the dog warden.

Update...

I'm sad to report that the poor boy has been pts.
He was unwanted by his 'owners' and the people who had been putting a roof over his head.
He was also apparently suffering from cancer.

Hope you're at peace now lad :-(

RIP you poor boy you ar in a bettr place now no one can hurt you any more xxxxxx

Tessies Tracey

As you probably know I live in Witham, and this is a very sad and shocking thing to happen to a dog.  It must be have been very upsetting for you to have witnessed this poor dog and the state he was in.  I can never get my head around the fact that people can own an animal and treat it so badly.

RIP. I hope he is in a far better place away from these cruel people.

Hi Diana
Yes, I knew we had a couple of other Witham members here
I'm just glad I stayed with him for as long as I did and covered him with a blanket and he'd had food..
poor love

What a sad outcome,no more suffering for this poor animal.Hope he running free now over the bridge.

This is the second really sad story of a stafford suffering I have heard this week! And we are only half way through it!!! They are a lovely loyal breed which certainly has had more than it's fair share of problems because of the general media, and being bred indiscriminately by BYBs!

I was told by Bob Willatt about a stafford puppy, taken to a vets at one week old because the "breeder" had been unable to sell it. He wanted it put to sleep. The rest of the litter had been sold and were with their new owners already. Poor bitch must have wondered what happened to her babies and those idiots who bought them.... I just hope they have the patience and care to rear them properly.

The puppy Molly can be seen here:-

http://www.sbtrescue.org.uk/needinghomes.htm

That is heartbreaking.What is the mentality of these creatures .They are certainly not human I am sure.

Seems to me some people need putting down more than the dogs!

I dont live in witham but in clacton which is not too far away. I must say that here every other dog is a staff and I have never seen so many adverts for dogs puppies kittens etc in shop windows. My daughters friend works for envirolmental health at tendring council and the dog warden says 80% of dogs in kennels are staffs and staff crosses.

I know our local council is planning to do a free spay/neuter campaign next year in which all staffy and staffy crosses can be done for free in the aid to hope that this stops some of the problems which have been occuring.

How about recommending this to your local councils/dog wardens..

Good idea Sue. Talking to tha Stafford club sec and the northern rescue this week they were saying the same thing that the Stafford and Staford croses make up the majority in kennels awaitng new homes. In this weeks Our Dogs Worcester Council put out an appeal for help they are getting so many.