ABANDONED dog Whiskey now has a new home — and a new name.

When Derek Entwistle read about the tiny Yorkshire terrier’s plight in The Bolton News he knew he wanted to give him a home.

The dog, named Whiskey by staff at Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter, had been found tied to a tree with two empty food bowls beside him.

He was being cared for at the charity in Northolt Drive when Mr Entwistle, aged 66, read the story.

He immediately went to the shelter and put his name down as a potential new owner.

When he heard he had been chosen to take the dog — now called Oscar — he and his wife, Jean, were delighted.

“As soon as I saw him I wanted him to be my dog,” said Mr Entwistle, who has been a lifelong dog owner.

“When my last dog, a Yorkshire terrier, died I decided I wasn’t going to go through the heartache again.

“Then I read about Oscar and I knew I had to have him. He is wonderful and we love him to bits.”

The first thing the Entwistles did was to change his name.

Mr Entwistle said: “My daughter came up with Oscar and I thought it was a great name for him. It’s just a shame that we don’t know what he was called or anything about his life before he went to the shelter, but for the rest of his life he is going to be well cared for here.”

Oscar, thought to be about five-years-old, needs to put on weight and Mr Entwistle is currently trying him with different foods. Mr Entwistle said: “We have only had him a few days but he has settled in really well. He has made himself at home.”

Destitute Animal Shelter boss Karen Rickards said: “Oscar is a very lucky little dog. He was abandoned but found a new and devoted owner. There are many more dogs and cats becoming homeless every day and new homes are so desperately needed. Our thanks go to Stacey at Plodder Lane Pets for Oscar’s new hair do which was done free of charge.”