A BEARDED dragon was put down after being found abandoned during one of the coldest weeks of the year.

The reptile was discovered by two boys in Chorley Old Road, Heaton.

They picked it up and started knocking on doors to see if the bearded dragon belonged to anyone, before approaching Amanda McKeon, who immediately put the lizard in one of her snake tanks.

Miss McKeon, aged 32, said: "I keep snakes and they had seen the lights of their tanks through the window.

"At first when I saw him I thought he was dead, he was stone cold.

"I had the equipment so I put the bearded dragon in one of the tanks and on a heated mat and I saw one of his legs move."

Miss McKeon, enlisted the help of friends, who keep bearded dragons, from Radcliffe, who brought up crickets, hoping it would eat.

She said: "He wasn't interested in the food, but I kept opening his mouth and used a syringe to give him liquid."

The next morning, Miss McKeon, took the reptile too Pennine Vets in Tottington, which treats reptiles, and was told it would have be put down.

It was thought the bearded dragon had not eaten for five months or so.

She said: "Because of the circumstances he was found him I was going to keep him.

"I was gutted, as was the 16-year-old who found him.

"The dragon had been starved and dumped."

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "It is awful that this poor bearded dragon was just dumped and left to die. They may look tough but these animals are actually very vulnerable. Bearded dragons are so susceptible to temperature. They rely on their environment to maintain their body heat so to be dumped outside at this time of year in these temperatures would've caused him to suffer.

"We have not been contacted about this particular and very worrying case but we see so many situations such as this where reptiles - and bearded dragons in particular - have been dumped and are in a bad way.

"The RSPCA is experiencing widespread neglect of exotic animals across the country. If people are not experienced at keeping these animals they may not realise the very specific needs they have in regards to factors such as food, environment and temperature. It is because of this we are urging people to really research these animals before they take one on as a pet and make sure they can provide for it for the rest of its life.

"Exotic pets are commonly found in pet shops nowadays too, however it is sadly often the case that they are handed over to buyers with very little to no information about how to care for them or the commitment that is involved in keeping them happy and healthy. Bearded dragons can live for up to 12 years in captivity - which a lot of people don’t realise either.

"We would urge anyone with information on this dumped bearded dragon to contact our RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 0300 123 4999."