POLICE and an animal charity are investigating the gruesome discovery of a dog which had been tied to weighted timber and dumped in a Suffolk river.

Russell Claydon

POLICE and an animal charity are investigating the gruesome discovery of a dog which had been tied to weighted timber and dumped in a Suffolk river.

It has not been ruled out that the large dog was still alive when it was thrown into the River Stour at Long Melford and drowned as it sank to the bottom.

Last night, officials said the act was so appalling that the person responsible “was in need of help”.

The dog had been tied to the timber with wire cable and was laden down with bricks.

Sophie Wilkinson, from the RSPCA East Anglia, said: “The condition the dog is in is absolutely horrendous.

“We are never going to know how the dog died as the body is too decayed but it looks like someone has been very determined to dispose of it and it looks suspicious.”

She said she could not rule out a link with occultism, but said it was more likely it was an unwanted dog which someone was being particularly cruel with.

She said: “We have had similar ones to this in Nottingham and Bedfordshire and it seems there are a lot of cruel people out there.

“We would like to hear from anyone who has information and it is important to say that whatever the situation with an unwanted dog, or if something has happened by accident, you need to get help and should never, ever dispose of a dog in this way.”

Mary Russell, 63, who lives in the converted 1760s Wivendale Mill off Station Road, had been going to dispose of some orchids around 9am when she made the gruesome discovery.

“At first I thought it was a big bit of timber,” she said, “then I thought it was a pig or fox and then I noticed it was a dog with its back legs tied up.

“I rang the Environment Agency who told me to call the police and the RSPCA.

“It seems to me the dog must have been alive when it went in. I could see it did not go in by accident.”

An examination from the RSPCA has determined the animal was large with white fur with black spots and could have been a Great Dane. There were no identification marks left on it such as a collar or microchip.

RSPCA workers and police officers are appealing for anyone to come forward with information about the animal.

Anyone with information about a large dog which has gone missing in the area or about how the animal ended up in the water is urged to call PC Darren Marshall on 01473 613500 or the RSPCA on 03001 234999.