Four puppies found dead on County Durham country lane possibly starved to death

Four puppies who were found "callously" abandoned on a country lane in County Durham may have been starved to death, the RSPCA believes.

The 12-week-old spaniel-type dogs, who are thought to be from the same litter, were discovered deceased in Moor Road near Staindrop at 10.30am on Saturday, August 24 by a couple out walking. They were soaking wet and lying in grass, and are believed to have been dumped 24 to 48 hours previously.

The couple reported the find to the RSPCA and the young dogs - all male - were taken to a vet to be examined. X-rays showed no obvious injuries but the puppies were very thin and had visible diarrhoea.

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None of them were microchipped or wearing a collar. The RSPCA believe they are likely to have been abandoned by a breeder after falling ill.

Krissy Raine, the RSPCA inspector who attended the incident, said: "It was a shocking and distressing sight for members of the public to come across tiny puppies who had been callously left like this. From the condition they were in we think the most likely scenario is that they became ill, didn’t receive any veterinary treatment and then possibly died of starvation before being dumped."

Krissy added: "Adding a dog to your family is an exciting time and everyone wants to ensure they bring home a happy and healthy animal. But buying a puppy today is a minefield and unscrupulous sellers are cashing in on a culture where quick online sales makes it easy for them to exploit dogs and dupe the public, all to make a quick buck with complete disregard for the dogs’ welfare."

A responsible breeder should always show their local authority licence, answer questions, and arrange for prospective buyers to meet the pup with their mum and siblings, in the place they were born and raised. The RSPCA encouraged people to look at the Puppy Contract if considering buying a puppy, which aims to ensure that puppies are healthy and happy, while helping to spot rogue dealers.

However, due to "overflowing shelters", the charity urged people to consider adopting from a rescue centre first. A spokesperson said: "We’re currently in the midst of an animal welfare crisis with shelters overflowing and dogs of all ages and breeds waiting for loving new homes."

The RSPCA urged anyone who saw anything suspicious or has information about someone who had spaniel type puppies who are no longer with them, to get in touch. They can do so by calling the RSPCA's appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01338030.

Due to distressing incidents such as this, the RSPCA is calling on the UK Government to bring forward proposals to tighten up controls on the importation of young puppies and pregnant bitches, in a bid to tackle the puppy trafficking problem which it says often fuels the illicit trade here. The RSPCA also says it would like to see better enforcement of licensing regulations of puppy breeders and sellers to ensure dogs are being bred with their health and welfare as a priority.