A puppy found with severe injuries in Iraq has died before she could be rehomed in Scotland.

Ex-marine Alex Cairnie found the dog - christened War Paws - wedged under a container in 45C heat, dehydrated and covered in dried glue and ticks.

The 39-year-old, now an oil and gas worker, said he was compelled to care for the puppy, despite rules forbidding him to have any animals at his workplace in the country.

Mr Cairnie, from Neilston, cleaned her wounds, removed 30 ticks from her inner ears and shaved off all of her matted fur to remove the hardened glue.

A fundraising campaign was set up to rehome War Paws in Scotland, with more than £7000 being raised in four days.

However, on Saturday it emerged the puppy had sadly died.

Mr Cairnie said on Facebook: "Had a call from Khalid to let me know War Paws perished in the night in the good care of Dr Abbas.

"I can't say how or why but she's gone and that's that. This is the reality of her predicament - no matter how hard she fought back every time the odds were always massively against her.

"In the end she doesn't get the life she would have had with me and my family and I don't get to give all you guys the icing on the cake that you deserve so much."

Jenniffer Jonsen, who set up the fundraising campaign, said: "I am beaten and I am beyond devastated.

"I can not thank you all enough, the pride I feel for all of you who have been with War Paws, Alex and myself through this journey is vast. You have amazed me you have humbled me and you have made one special little girl a legacy now for every one of the stray dogs of Iraq."

Ms Jonsen added that all monies raised will now go to the charity War Paws, which helps animals in hostile environments.