Drowned dog found weighted down in river

The dog was found with a bag containing a brick and dumbbell tied around its neck, the RSPCA said

A dead dog found weighed down with a brick and a dumbbell in a river in Wakefield was "likely alive" when it went into the water, the RSPCA has said.

The charity said the dog, a female whippet-type breed, was found with a rope tied around its neck attached to a bag containing the heavy items.

Members of the K9-SAR search and rescue group found the dog in the River Calder, near a BP garage on Doncaster Road, on 14 August, according to the RSPCA.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “What happened to this poor dog is heart-breaking and upsetting and there is no excuse to treat an animal like this."

After being taken to a vets, it was discovered the dog had a mammary tumour, but that was not the cause of death, the RSPCA said.

Instead, the vet concluded the dog had died as a result of drowning.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ollie Wilkes, who is investigating, said: “We are keen to find the person or people responsible.

"She also isn’t microchipped, so we have no way of knowing who owned her, which is why we are relying on the public to help.

"If you recognise the dog and know where she came from, please do get in touch with us so we can follow this up.”

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