Twycross: Corrie name for dog found dumped in lay-by

The RSPCA is hoping to find a new home for Cassie

A puppy found abandoned in a lay-by on a busy main road has been named after a Coronation Street character.

Cassie, thought to be a shepherd cross, was rescued by a passer-by on the A444 in Twycross, Leicestershire, on 10 January.

The pup was given her name by an RSPCA inspector who had been to the soap's set to advise on a dog breeding storyline.

She is now being cared for at a rescue centre ahead of being rehomed.

Cassie - thought to be three or four months old - was taken to a vet before being moved to the RSPCA Woodside Animal Centre in Leicester.

The RSPCA said the puppy had an old healed fracture on her hind leg and lacked nutrition

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal said: "This poor pup was found in a lay-by by a really busy road and it must have been so frightening for her.

"Thank goodness a member of the public stopped to rescue her, because she could easily have been injured by running on to the road, or even worse.

"I really can't understand why someone would have abandoned her - she's still so very young."

Ms Boal believes Cassie, who had an old healed fracture on her hind leg and lacked nutrition, might have been the last of a litter a breeder was not able to sell.

"She was clearly not being looked after well given that she is lacking in nutrition, which is vital for large breeds when they are young," she said.

'Lovely little girl'

The inspector, who also works for the charity's performing animal welfare team, said she visited the Coronation Street set while they were filming scenes with puppies.

"I have been working with the soap on a hard-hitting storyline about puppy breeding," she said.

"Cassie, played by actress Claire Sweeney, saves the pups from their illegal breeder."

She said she collected Cassie on the same day the episode was aired on TV, adding: "Given she was a puppy, it just seemed ideal to give her the Corrie-related name.

"The team at Coronation Street were fantastic - showing great patience, listening to our advice and always putting the welfare of the puppies first."

Ms Boal described Cassie as a "lovely little girl", who was "well-mannered and so sweet".

She asked for anyone with information as to how the puppy was abandoned to call the RSPCA's appeals line.