Two puppies and dog which were set on fire found dead along Bilston canal

The body of a dog and two puppies have been found dead along a canal in the Black Country, with the RSPCA launching an urgent investigation. The dog, thought to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, had been tied up and set on fire but it's believed the dog wasn't alive when this happened.

Its body was found by a member of public along a canal beneath the underpass of the A463 Black Country Route in Bilston, Wolverhampton, on Monday, May 13. Meanwhile on the previous day, Sunday, May 12, the bodies of two puppies were found next to the canal further along near Central Drive.

The puppies appeared to be just days old and were wet as though they had been in the canal and in a state of decomposition. The body of the Staffie was taken to the RSPCA’s Birmingham Animal Hospital for an examination, where no microchip was found.

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Although its not believed the dog was alive when it was set on fire, the RSPCA is concerned about how the dog got there and whether it had been abandoned before the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 03001238018 and ask to leave a message for Inspector Vicki Taylor.

Inspector Vicki Taylor, who is investigating into both incidents, said: "There is nothing to suggest that these two incidents are linked, however we are looking into both of them and would appeal for anyone with information about either to get in touch. We don’t know if the puppies were drowned, and we are keen to speak to anyone who knows what happened as it seems suspicious.

"We are also eager to learn more about the dog in the underpass. We don’t understand why someone set fire to the dog and we are eager to find out why the dog was there in the first place. We’re urging anyone who knows anything about either of these incidents to get in touch with us."