A family who found an injured and aggressive bulldog wandering the streets of Oldham just days before Christmas say they were told to set the dog loose or tie it up - and fear it had been abandoned twice before.

The black and white bulldog was found by Carley Walsh and her partner Shell Blyden 'limping' on a bypass in Oldham town centre on Saturday, December 23, at around 7.30am.

The pair said the dog had nothing but a harness, was struggling to walk, had injuries to his head and paws and was "clearly very hungry".

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

They then took the bulldog into the back office of the shop to feed him, make him comfortable and dry him off. 

However, it took the pair and their family several hours of running around to secure the poor pooch a safe place to sleep.

They said they initially called the RSPCA, local vets and the dog warden and, after receiving no response, turned to family to help with the task.

Helpful relatives then took the pet to various veterinary clinics in Oldham and Mossley, both of which reportedly turned the dog away as the owner could not be traced from the chip.

Tracy Warren-Hamer, who had been helping take the dog to the vets, said: "None of us could take the dog in as we have cats and dogs already.

"So we decided to take it back to the shop and wait for the dog warden.

"By this time, the dog was starting to show signs of aggression which we felt were due to fear and pain, but meant we couldn't handle it easily.

"We pulled up outside the shop and attempted to get the dog out of the car but this wasn't possible due to its behaviour."

The family said when the dog started snarling and growling, they rang Greater Manchester Police for assistance who "never came".

Ms Warren-Hamer continued: "We'd informed police of behaviour change and risk to those around it.

"They advised to either let it go or tie it up and leave it.

"The dog warden and police didn't come and the dog warden didn't respond to any messages.

"No one helped at all."

Ms Walsh added: "We contacted 101 several times and the operator told me to tie him up somewhere safe and leave him.

"It's disgusting.

"The dog warden did not phone back after several messages and an email and no animal shelter took him in."

Several hours later, the family did successfully find the dog a safe place at a vet in Bury. 

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers received reports of a stray dog in Yorkshire Street, Oldham on 23 December and provided guidance and advice to the caller.

"The dog was later taken to a vets to be cared for that evening.”

But residents in Oldham claim the dog had been found abandoned days before and that the local warden was not "interested" in rescuing him.

It is alleged the dog was found by another woman on Wednesday (December 20) and, after facing similar struggles to find a suitable place, she reportedly followed police advice to tie him up outside and wait for the dog warden.

According to a local dog rescuer of Greater Manchester Lost Dog Search and Rescue Capture Team, the dog was scanned at the vets and the chip was registered to a breeder, meaning there was no registered owner contactable.

She said the first finder did keep the dog for a couple of days but was told by police to leave the dog for the warden to collect.

She added: "The police told her to tie him outside, in the pouring rain, and that the dog warden would come in about three hours.

"The dog must have broken free, so the poor thing looks like he's been abandoned, only to be abandoned again until he was found the following day."

A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: "The council takes animal welfare very seriously and is looking into the matter."

The dog warden has also been contacted for comment.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.