The RSPCA is appealing for help after the body of a dog was found in a plastic bag in the River Trent
An Environment Agency worker has found the decomposing body of a dog in the River Trent, by Dunham-on-Trent, north of Lincoln.
The grim discovery was made as workers removed overgrowth by a sluice gate by the toll bridge on the Dunham bank of the Trent.
The RSPCA believe that the dog was suffocated and then thrown into the water. The dog appears to have been in the water for some as it was too badly decomposed to perform a post mortem.
The dog’s sex is undeterminable but it appears to be a brindle-coloured Staffordshire bull terriertype.
RSPCA Inspector Helen Fielden who is leading the enquiry into the dog’s death said: “The body was discovered by the toll bridge, but it could have floated downstream from another location.”
The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with any information that could lead to the identification of the dog.
“At the moment we are unable to trace the owner,” said Helen. “It is a crime to deliberately hurt a pet dog, and to dispatch of an animal in this manner is cruel and cowardly.”
“If we can uncover evidence leading to prosecution, the culprit could face a prison sentence.”
Anyone concerned about a missing terrier-type dog in the Dunham area, or with any information should contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty line (tel: 0870 555999)
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