Appeal as starved dog’s body dumped in canal near Bentley Bridge

Animal welfare charity the RSPCA has issued an urgent appeal to find out who abandoned the emaciated creature in the canal by Cineworld at Bentley Bridge.

The body of the grey and white brindle Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog was found by a fisherman last Thursday at about 12pm.

He alerted the RSPCA and inspector Vicki Taylor was called to the scene, where she retrieved the dog, which she said resembled a skeleton.

The animal, aged about three, had been wrapped in bedsheets before being thrown in the water.

Inspector Taylor said: “The poor dog was in such a poor bodily state it seems to me that someone has starved him and then decided to dump the body in the canal.

"It was a sickening sight.

“When I got the dog out I could tell he had not been in the water for too long so I am wondering if any witnesses saw him being dumped a few days before being discovered.

“As he was quite a distinctive-looking Staffordshire bull terrier with his colouring and long legs I am also hoping someone may recognise him from the photographs and help identify the owner.

“It is horrendous that this poor dog probably suffered for weeks from starvation and I am very keen to find the person responsible."

The dog was microchipped, and Inspector Taylor said managed to trace the owner but discovered she had sold the dog to a man 19 months ago and the details had not been updated.

The first owner said the dog had been called Blue at the time and it is not known if the new owner changed his name.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.