A VET practice is urging owners to microchip their pets after providing emergency care to a stray dog found in Skipton with what turned out to be a badly broken leg.

The young Saluki was taken to Ashlands Veterinary Centre in Skipton after he was found limping around near the town’s canal. Because the dog was not chipped, it was impossible for the practice to trace his owners.

The dog was treated with pain relief and taken to the vet's main practice in Ilkley, where an X-ray revealed a fracture in the radius and ulna – the two long bones in the lower part of his front right leg.

The veterinary team, which named the abandoned dog Woody, posted an appeal on social media to find his owners but no one came forward to claim him despite the post being widely shared.

The severity of Woody’s injury meant it could not be left untreated until his owner was found, so senior vet Ana Devesa repaired his leg during a three-hour operation during which she attached a metal plate to the fractured bone to help it heal.

Woody, who is thought to be about 18 months old, stayed at the practice where he was carefully monitored while he recovered from the operation.

Jenny Chapman, Ashlands Vets’ clinical nurse manager, said: “We quickly determined there was something seriously wrong with Woody’s right foreleg which urgently needed veterinary care, and there was more likelihood of a positive outcome with early treatment. There were no external wounds or obvious bruising so it’s a mystery how that injury was caused.

“The surgery went well, and he was bright and alert within a few days. He has made a really good recovery. Everyone in the team fell in love with him as he has such a lovely nature and the team rallied round, contacting different animal welfare charities to see if any could look after Woody until new owners could be found.”

Clinical director Sam Burnell spread the net wider by enlisting the help of Rutland House Veterinary Hospital in St Helens where senior vet Stephanie Walsh involved The Dogs Trust. The charity found Woody a new home with a loving family which has since taken him back to Rutland House Vets where post-op check-ups have shown the fracture is healing well.

Ashlands, which is part of the VetPartners group of practices, is now urging people to ensure their pets are microchipped and their contact details kept up to date to spare them the heartache of losing their beloved pet forever if they go missing or are stolen.

It is a legal requirement for all dogs in the UK to be microchipped and registered by the time they are eight weeks old with owners risking a fine of up to £500 if it is not done. Cats in England must also be microchipped and registered by the age of 20 weeks old.