Ten dogs found dead in Sports Direct bag after being pulled from Leeds canal

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Ten dogs have been found dead in a bag pulled from a Leeds canal, just nine months after an identical incident in the same location.

The RSPCA was contacted after a member of the public saw a large Sports Direct bag in the canal and was concerned there was an animal inside.

Animal Rescue Officer Hannah Williams attended and, with the help of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the bag was pulled out - and the sad discovery was made.

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Two adult French bulldogs, six French bulldog puppies and two terrier puppies were found inside the bag, along with a red brick.

Ten dogs - two adults and eight puppies - have been found dead in a bag pulled from a Leeds canal, just nine months after an identical incident in the same canal.Ten dogs - two adults and eight puppies - have been found dead in a bag pulled from a Leeds canal, just nine months after an identical incident in the same canal.
Ten dogs - two adults and eight puppies - have been found dead in a bag pulled from a Leeds canal, just nine months after an identical incident in the same canal. | RSPCA

The dogs were found on May 20 in the canal running alongside the River Aire, by Holts Crest Way, Leeds.

Heartbreakingly, in August last year a family of French bulldogs - two adults and three puppies - believed to have been drowned were pulled from the canal, again in a Sports Direct bag.

Despite an appeal for information from the RSPCA, no one responsible for the incident was traced.

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Hannah said: “It is very suspicious that two identical incidents have occurred in the same area, both families of French bulldogs and both in Sports Direct bags. It seems highly likely that these are linked.

“It's awful to think what these poor dogs went through and I'm keen to piece together what happened leading up to finding them. They didn't appear to be in ill health which makes us, very sadly, believe they could have been intentionally drowned.

“This would be an awful act of animal cruelty and we are urging anyone who has any information about this possibility to get in touch with us so we can find out what happened to these poor dogs.”

Hannah is urging anyone who lives nearby to check any cameras from around the 20 May to see if there is anyone walking French bulldogs or carrying a large Sports Direct bag.

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“If anyone has any information at all which can help us, please do get in touch,” added Hannah.

If you have information, please call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 1268568.

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