The RSPCA wants information about a young collie dog apparently abandoned in a village near Caernarfon. 'Noel', as he has been named by staff at the charity's animal centre, was found on a farm near Llanaelhaearn but does not belong to the farmer.
The RSPCA in Wales, which has received 957 complaints of abandoned pets in the last 12 months, said 'Noel' was one of the "lucky ones" as he had survived.
It urged owners to ask for help if they were struggling to cope with pets.
'Noel' was found tangled up in a fence at the farm on 15 December.
The farmer looked after the dog for one night and the RSPCA collected it the following day.
"Noel really is a fantastic, friendly dog and when I collected him he was so hungry that he was in the back of the van searching everywhere for food," said RSPCA inspector Kevin Paton.
"It is tragic to see such a great dog in such a poor condition.
"I would appeal to anyone who recognises the description of Noel to please get in contact or anyone who thinks they might know who he belongs to.
"Someone out there may be looking for him but he must have been wandering around for some time to have become so emaciated," Mr Paton added.
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'Noel' is lame in one leg and has a longstanding injury to one eye, in which he has lost his sight.
The dog, less than two years old, was found wearing a brown leather collar with a piece of blue plastic rope attached.
Many abandoned animals are found alive but these are the "lucky ones" according to the RSPCA because many more are found dead.
Tied to tree
Last year, dead animals were fished out of canals in Conwy, Llanfairfechan and Neath and the decomposing body of a dog was found in Swansea, still attached by lead to a tree.
RSPCA superintendent for Wales and West, Martyn Hubbard, is horrified by the number of abandoned pets.
"If you leave an animal unattended tied to a tree or dumped in a box absolutely anything could happen to it," he said.
"People must realise the great risk to the lives of the animals they are dumping.
"I would urge anyone who has an unwanted pet to contact us or any other animal welfare organisation.
"There is no shame in asking for help.
"Throughout the country animal charities take in pets regularly from people who can no longer care for their pet for one reason or another.
"That is the responsible and right thing to do," he added.
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I would urge anyone who has an unwanted pet to contact us.....there is no shame in asking for help
