Four cockapoos found abandoned in Alrewas, Staffordshire have been rescued by the RSPCA, and an appeal for information has been launched by the charity.
The four dogs – all female – were found tied to a gate in the middle of a quarry off Barley Green Lane by a passing cyclist on Wednesday (15 January).
There were concerns for the dog’s welfare – and the RSPCA was contacted for help.
RSPCA Inspector Graeme Brookes said: “It was heartbreaking to see the condition of these dogs. They were cold, wet, shivering and very scared and had probably been left there in the early hours.
“One of them was so terrified that she couldn’t walk on a lead. I had to carry her to my van, and while she was in my arms, she locked eyes with me and wouldn’t look away. When we arrived at the vet, she wouldn’t leave me.”
The four dogs are now being cared for at an emergency boarding facility.
Graeme added: “Their coats were extremely matted and contained a lot of sawdust. Once the vet had examined them and found that thankfully, they were in reasonable health, their matted coats had to be shaved off.
“All four cockapoos are female and we estimate they are about 10 months of age, so have reached breeding age. Although they were microchipped, the owner’s details were out of date, so we are trying to discover who has been keeping them recently.
“We really want to find out what happened to these poor abandoned cockapoos, so we are urging anyone with firsthand information about them to contact our Appeals Line on 0300 123 8018 quoting incident number 01428125.”
Every day, RSPCA rescuers are sadly having to pick up the pieces after animals have been abandoned.
In 2024, there were 22,503 incidents relating to an abandoned animal – averaging out at more than 61 incidents every single day. Between 18 December and 31 December 2024, there were 846 incidents concerning animals being abandoned – the most for this period since 2018.
Graeme added: “It is a pet owner’s legal responsibility to properly look after any animal in their care. These poor dogs had been left tied up in the depth of winter with no thought for their welfare. It was only because an eagle-eyed passerby spotted them that they were brought to safety.
“For those who find themselves struggling, there are many reputable animal welfare charities who can offer help and advice and we encourage anybody in a difficult situation to seek support.”
When an animal is in need, the quicker they get help the better. If a dog is found – believed to be abandoned -, please contact the local authority’s stray dog service; there is more information on what to do here.
If a small pet has been abandoned, they should be taken directly to a local vet or rescue centre. These teams can call in the expertise of our teams if there’s evidence that the animal has been neglected or abused. There’s more information on how to safely handle and transport an animal on the RSPCA’s website.
The RSPCA has also launched a dedicated cost of living hub to signpost the help out there for owners and it also has more than 200 Pet Food Bank Partnerships across the country to support struggling pet owners.
