Animal cruelty investigation underway after dog found taped up inside bag in Dewsbury canal

Police are investigating an incident of animal cruelty following the death of a dog found in a canal in Dewsbury.

The taped and bound dog, believed to be a six-year-old female golden, cross breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier type, was discovered in a black bin bag that had been thrown into the canal off Mill Street East/Bretton Street in the Savile Town area.

Officers were alerted at around 11.15am on December 21 by a member of the public who had noticed the floating bag.

Upon retrieving it, they found the dog’s body and contacted the RSPCA.

The dog was taken to a local vets where professionals reported signs of neglect prior to her death.

Sergeant Toni Ramsden of West Yorkshire Police said:

“Animal cruelty is a horrible offence which rightly causes great upset in our communities,"

"We are keen to locate and take action against the individual responsible for this poor dog’s treatment and are conducting a number of enquiries with partners.

“Anyone who may have seen someone throwing the dog into the canal or perhaps seen someone walking a dog matching this description and knows the owner is asked to contact us."

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