Dogsey

St Helens Council dog wardens are appealing for information that will help them track down the owners of two badly malnourished and neglected dogs found in Newton-le-Willows.

Both dogs – a female Bullmastiff type and a female Labrador crossbreed – were discovered wandering separately in the Wargrave Road area. Both were filthy and severely underweight.

Dog Welfare and Enforcement Supervisor Pauline Stone said: “I saw the crossbreed first and was appalled at her condition. Rib and hip bones were clearly visible, the smell was disgusting and it was filthy – suggesting she had been kept outside.

“But the condition of the Bullmastiff was even worse. She had been microchipped – we know her name is Zola, but the rest of the details were out of date.”

Both dogs were taken to the Bold Veterinary Practice, where the female crossbreed was found to weigh just 11.3kg – when she should have been around the 22-25kg mark. The Bullmastiff weighed only 15kg, with the correct weight for that size of dog being between 25 and 30kg.

The council and the RSPCA have now launched a joint investigation to find the owners of the two dogs.