A six-week-old puppy was dumped in a New World shopping bag and abandoned on the side of a north Waikato road in the rain.

The staffy-cross was malnourished, dripping in fleas, and left with a tray of soggy fries.

Kerry Wagstaff found the pup this week while out walking up to the Waerenga Rd rest stop about 3km out of Te Kauwhata, overlooking Lake Waikare.

As she turned back to head home, she felt something 'attack” her calf. With headphones in, it gave her a fright and she screamed.

'Looking down I saw this wet, skinny little pup with the most beautiful eyes.”

She picked him up, and tried to find where he'd come from and to see if there were any other puppies.

'Monday has had some heavy weather, so I gathered he must have been sitting under the bushes up there for maybe the morning until I came along.”

All she could find was the New World reusable shopping bag, with the tray of soggy fries.

'I didn't see any boxes or blankets that he might have been left with so came to the conclusion some disgusting uncaring person had just dumped him there.”

Wagstaff says he only looked to be six weeks old – if that – and was shivering, so she tucked him into her jacket and trekked home.

'I could see he was emaciated, dirty, had some fleas but otherwise was uninjured.”

Once clean and fed, she says he was full of energy to run around the property.

Through a friend, she got in touch with a Waikato District Council animal control officer, who arranged for someone to pick the pup up.

Waikato District Council senior animal control officer Amanda Davis says she's been doing this for 17 years, and finding abandoned or dumped dogs hasn't got easier.

It's sporadic year-round, but mostly happened near rivers, lakes or on abandoned roads – where people can't be seen.

Davis says it usually happens because people haven't got their dog desexed and then didn't want the puppies.

They are usually neglected and malnourished – rather than seriously injured.

She says this puppy had been dumped where someone would find it.

Davis says there is still a stigma that the pound is a bad place, but they are on a mission to change that, and are available to help.

The puppy – who is now in a foster home with a council staff member – has been named Fraser and will be put up for adoption once he gains some weight and learns some life skills.

People could have a look at the Waikato Pound Pups Facebook page for information on the dogs available – with cute pictures.

It re-homes about 200 to 300 dogs every year.

People dumping dogs like this happens frequently, Davis says. But it's hard to get accurate numbers as the dogs are often found roaming.

She urges people contact the animal control team on 0800 492 452 and bring unwanted dogs directly to them. There's no judgement and people wouldn't get in trouble.

It helps if they knew the dog's age, breed and background.

There's also a cage out the front of the Ngāruawāhia pound and dogs could be put there, no questions asked.

People who need help desexing their dog in the Waikato district can pop into their local council office and enquire about its desexing fund.

The PUP Fund programme is for people with a community services or gold card – or if in financial hardship – and means desexing is $80, with a free registration.

That would normally cost between $200 and $500 depending on the size of the dog.

-Rachel Moore/Stuff.