Two dogs have been found dead after they were both shot in the chest in County Durham.
The young adult lurchers, one male and one female, were found by residents on December 7 in Shildon.
Police officers were called to help one of the dogs at Roseberry Terrace. The second dog was found already dead outside the Hallgarth Surgery, in Cheapside.
The RSPCA were called and discovered that both animals, believed to be aged around one or two years old, were dead. A single air-gun pellet was found in both of the animals' lungs.