Dogs missing from home found dead in canal

The dogs were found in Birmingham Canal in Wolverhampton

The bodies of two dogs who went missing from their home a week ago have been found in a bag in a Wolverhampton canal.

Nala and Nova, both three-year-old female mastiff-type dogs, disappeared from Trent Gardens on 12 January when their owner briefly let them out into their garden.

Minutes later when she could not hear them barking, she saw her back gate had been unbolted and the dogs were gone.

The pair were found in a submerged builders' bag that had been tied to a canal boat mooring in Birmingham Canal on Friday, the RSPCA said.

Owner 'distraught'

A member of the public initially spotted the bag close to Smestow Street on 13 January but did not look inside until Friday when they were shocked to find the dead dogs inside, the charity said.

"There was no obvious cause of death or injury and they were in good condition. It appears they were drowned," RSPCA inspector Vicki Taylor said.

The dogs were microchipped and their owner, who had reported them missing, were "distraught" to be informed they had died.

Wolverhampton animal charity Wings and Paws had appealed for help in finding the pets saying both were neutered so were no use for breeding.

The charity said the news was "heart breaking" as they were adored by their family.

"They were also close to the hearts of Wings and Paws. We knew these dogs personally and their family were also supporters of the rescue," a spokesman added.

The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information to contact them.