Dead dogs 'discarded like rubbish' near road

The animals were dumped by the road between Owler Bar and Baslow, the RSPCA said

An investigation has been launched after the remains of five dogs were dumped next to a Derbyshire road.

The RSPCA said the skeletons of the animals, believed to be puppies, were wrapped in bin bags and left by the A621 between Owler Bar and Baslow.

The charity said, on Monday, that three dogs were found in a layby at the end of January.

That followed the discovery of two dead dogs in undergrowth next to the same layby in September 2024.

RSPCA inspector Laura Baker said: "It's incredibly sad that these dogs have been dumped in this way and highly suspicious that similar remains have been found in the same location on two separate occasions.

"Due to the severe decomposition of the bodies it's difficult for us to tell much about the dogs or how they've died but we believe, from their skulls, that they were small breeds - like pugs - and were just puppies.

"We're concerned that these may have come from a puppy farm and have been simply discarded like rubbish following their deaths."

The RSPCA has urged anyone with information about the dogs to contact them and said the police had been informed.