SIX dead dogs have been dumped next to a layby near Stroud.

The carcass of a lurcher was found by a member of the public in a bag, not far from two skulls of small adult dogs, the skull of a small puppy, a skeleton without a skull of a larger dog, and what is believed to be the remains of another dog.

Stroud District Council’s Animal Welfare Service is appealing for the public’s help in finding out how and why the dogs were dumped.

“We don’t know at this stage why the dogs ended up there but it is a sad sight and totally unnecessary,” said SDC's animal welfare officer Alex Myrie. “The police alerted us and we are investigating, and we are checking with vets for any signs of identification.”

She said the body of the dog found in the bag showed signs of being eaten at by wild animals. All appear to have been there for some time.

Lurchers are not a specific breed but a cross of a sighthound such as a greyhound or a whippet with another breed of dog. The skulls are believed to be those of a Jack Russell-type dog. It is not clear at this stage how any of these dogs died.

Police were made aware of the discovery of the lurcher carcass and a skeleton by a member of the public in a layby in Holloway Road, Bisley on Sunday, April 14.

Today animal welfare officers discovered the partial remains of four more dogs.

SDC environment committee chair, councillor Simon Pickering said: "I am appalled by this discovery and ask if anyone has any information to please contact our Animal Welfare Service team.”

The council is still investigating the dumping of a paralysed ferret in a dog waste bin in Uplands, Stroud at the end of March. SDC officers rescued the animal but had to have it put down at a vets due to the severity of its injuries.

Anyone who knows anything about either case is asked to call the council on 01453 754492 or to reach out via its Facebook page, facebook.com/animalwelfaresdc

Police can also be contacted about the dogs on 101, quoting incident 337 of April 15.