The owners of a Shar-Pei mix-breed named Kai left the dog tied to railings at a railway station in Scotland.

The dog, along with a suitcase of belongings, was found alone outside the train station in Ayr.

Scotland’s branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has taken control of Kai and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Kai and his suitcase [Scottish SPCA]

A statement from the SPCA said: "Regardless of the act Kai was left with his belongings, this was a cruel incident and we are keen to identify the person responsible."

Kai’s suitcase contained the equipment necessary to care for the dog, including a food bowl and food, a pillow and toys.

SPCA inspector Stewart Taylor said: "The dog is microchipped and we were able to find out his name is Kai.”

"We contacted the owner registered to the microchip, who stated they had sold Kai on Gumtree in 2013. Unfortunately they could not tell us the address of the person who bought him."

Scottish animal health and welfare laws make abandoning a dog an offence. If caught, Kai’s owners could receive a life-long ban from keeping animals.

Inspector Taylor added: "This case highlights the potential consequences of selling an animal online as it often leads to the impulse buying of pets that people know very little about."