A SECOND puppy has been found dead in the same stretch of the canal where another dog was discovered deceased less than a week earlier.

The pup was found in the Bridgewater Canal in Grappenhall – near to St Wilfrid’s Parish Church – on Tuesday, March 2, only four days after a similar discovery nearby.

This other dog was recovered from the water around 300 metres away, near to the junction of Chester Road and York Road on Thursday, February 25.

Both puppies were grey coloured Staffordshire Bull Terrier types which were around one week old, and are believed to have come from the same litter.

The cause of their deaths is unclear, and the RSPCA is appealing for information from members of the public.

Inspector Jenny Bethel said: “This must have been a really upsetting discovery for local people, and it’s awful to think that someone has deliberately dumped these tiny puppies.

“The vets have examined the bodies and believe the puppies to be approximately one week old, and they are blue or grey coloured Staffie-type dogs and likely to be from the same litter.

“The vets can’t determine an obvious cause of death at this stage, so we are very keen to find out more.

“I’m really concerned about the rest of the litter, as well as the mother dog who could be in a lot of distress and in need of help.

“It’s a very worrying situation.

“I really want to find out more about this as soon as possible, so I’m urging anyone with any information to get in touch in complete confidence by calling our inspector’s appeal line number on 0300 123 8018.”

Both puppies were removed from the water by Newton-based Laurel Animal Rescue before being taken to the vets.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the rescue centre said: “We have retrieved another deceased puppy from the Bridgewater Canal in Grappenhall, identical shape and size and clearly from the same litter.

“They were found about 300 meters away from each other.

“Somebody, somewhere knows something.

“If the person who has dumped these has anymore puppies they don’t want, then please get in touch with us or some of the other rescues around Warrington.”