Anyone who has recently bought a dog in Fitzwilliam, Kinsley or Hemsworth has been urged to take them to a vet to be checked. It comes after a 10-week-old puppy dumped in the area died of parvovirus, which is highly contagious and can be fatal.

       Courtney Kershaw and her partner found the pup, who was in poor condition, on their doorstep in Kinsley on Friday.

       The puppy was not microchipped and they kept him overnight to see if anyone came forward.

       Ms Kershaw told YorkshireLive: "He was shaking and in an awful state.

       "He was so skinny, and smelled awful - even when we washed him it didn't go away.

       "But we fell in love with him so we kept him overnight while we waited to see if anyone would claim him."

       The next morning the puppy suffered from severe bloody diarrhoea and Ms Kershaw's partner rushed him to the vets.

       Ms Kershaw set up a GoFundMe page to raise ￡1,000 to pay for his treatment.

       However when she rang the vets the next morning she was told the cockapoo had passed away overnight.

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       Ms Kershaw said: "They said it was too late to save him.

       "It did really break us because we did fall in love with him and want to bring him home.

       "It's scared a lot of people because they don't want their puppies to catch it."

       The Fitzwilliam, Kinsley and Hemsworth Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page shared a post urging people who have recently bought a puppy in the area to take them to the vets to be checked.

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       Parvovirus attacks the intestines and causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

       Dogs with the virus quickly become dehydrated and weak.

       Parvovirus is highly contagious and can be fatal.

       Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk from the virus.

       Parvovirus spreads through faeces and can survive in the environment for up to nine months.

       There is no cure but treatments may include a drip, anti-sickness medication and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.