An elderly dog found tied to a bench in Surrey is recovering from his ordeal at the Battersea Old Windsor rescue centre, as staff continue to care for animals amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Charlie, an 11-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, was found abandoned and alone on Chobham Common by a passer by at the beginning of March and brought into the much-loved animal charity's centre in Priest Hill.

Battersea’s expert veterinary staff found Charlie’s teeth in a terrible condition and had to extract most of them.

Hannah Gee, Team Leader at Battersea Old Windsor, said: “Sadly, we’ll never really know what happened to him, but he has shown to be a resilient and gentle little dog. Charlie is a bundle of energy despite his age and loves to play with tennis balls and toys. He really enjoys human company but isn’t a fan of other dogs so would prefer to live somewhere that’s a bit quieter for him.”

Charlie already has a home lined up and while Battersea Old Windsor is currently closed to the public, anyone wishing to rehome a dog or cat are can fill out a rehoming application on the centre's website. Once Battersea is able to safely re-open, staff will continue to find new homes for the animals.

Although Battersea has had to temporarily close its centre, staff are still working tirelessly to ensure Charlie and the rest of the dogs and cats in their care continue to receive proper care..

Hannah continues: “In the meantime, for those who would like to support Battersea, please consider making a donation towards the care of our dogs and cats by visiting donate.battersea.org.uk.”