Ten dogs found dead in a bag pulled from a canal in West Leeds

Ten dogs – two adults and eight puppies – were found dead in a bag removed from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in West Leeds, just nine months after an identical incident on the same stretch.

The RSPCA was contacted after a member of the public saw a large Sports Direct bag in the canal and became 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 removed. Two adult French bulldogs, six French bulldog puppies and two terrier puppies were found inside the bag, along with a red brick.

The dogs were found on May 20 in the canal that runs alongside the River Aire, off Holts Crest Way.

Last August a family of French bulldogs – two adults and three puppies – were pulled from the canal, again in a Sports Direct bag.

Despite an appeal for information from the RSPCA, no one has been found responsible for the incident.

Ms Williams said: “It is very suspicious that there have been two identical incidents in the same area, both French bulldog families and both in Sports Direct bags. It seems very likely that they are related.

“It’s horrible to think what these poor dogs have been through and I’m keen to piece together what happened until they were found. They did not appear to be in ill health, which unfortunately leads us to believe that they may have been drowned on purpose.

“This would be an appalling act of animal cruelty and we urge anyone with information about this possibility to contact us so we can find out what happened to these poor dogs.”

Ms Williams is urging anyone who lives nearby to check the cameras around May 20 for anyone walking French bulldogs or carrying a large Sports Direct bag.

“If anyone has any information that can help, please contact us,” she added.

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