A woman has come to the rescue of a beautiful 'caring' dog that she found abandoned in a forest in Oldham.

On the morning of Friday, November 22, Natalia Matyska made the shocking discovery of a small, brown dog tied to a tree in a remote patch of woodland near Oldham Edge.

A photograph shows the poor pooch had been tethered to a tree by its lead while snow and frost gripped the ground.

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The dog's lead had been wrapped and tied around the tree, leaving the animal with little room to move around or escape.

Natalia took the dog to the vet to search for a microchip before taking her back home to look after her.

However, tragedy then struck as her cat "had the biggest panic attack" and escaped their home.

The Persian feline was an indoor cat and fears increased for her welfare as Natalia said she "will be freezing" outside.

The family then sadly found Coco deceased just two days later on Sunday (November 24).

The family's beloved pet cat, Coco, was tragically found deadThe family's beloved pet cat, Coco, was tragically found dead (Image: Natalia Matyska / Facebook / Royton, Shaw Home Watch and Community Group)

In a post on social media, Natalia wrote: "I'm absolutely heartbroken. 

"On one hand, I've saved a life, on the other, I've lost one in the process."

The mother said she was "dreading" telling her daughter as she had a "very close bond with her".

As for the dog, since named Nala, Natalia made another tough decision to take her to a rescue centre as the pooch turned aggressive towards her children.

Natalia said: "She bit my daughter, thinking she needs to protect me.

"She is genuinely a very lovely dog, very loving and caring and had not showed me any aggression until my children ran through the door making a lot of notice after school which scared her."

Neighbours said it was "understandable" that Nala reacted defensively, given her stressful ordeal, and praised the family for their heroic effort in saving the dog.

In an update, Natalia told The Oldham Times Nala is now in "very good hands" and has gone "to an amazing experienced rescue, all the way to Ireland, to receive the proper care she needs".

The discovery has since sparked an outpouring of support from neighbours across Royton and Shaw with many commending Natalia for the rescue.

Cassiel Grayson said: "You've done such a wonderful thing with the dog" while Kath Flevill said: "Oh you poor love. How kind of you to look after that little dog."

Others were outraged that the dog had been left in such conditions, writing that it is "lowest of the low" to abandon the dog, particularly as the weather turned cold and in such an isolated area.