A DEAD dog has been found stuffed inside a suitcase in Burnley.

The male Staffordshire bull terrier type dog was discovered by a horrified walker who then told police.

An investigation is now being led by the RSPCA.

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Pictures of the brindle and white dog, which appeared to be underweight, were put on Facebook by Julie Magee, who said it was found at Chicken Hill Wood, off Harold Street.

She has pleaded for information on its owner.

She said the suspicious circumstances led her to believe the dog, found on Tuesday, could have been abused or stolen.

The heartbreaking snaps, later shared by 7,000-strong group Police Alerts UK and News Reports, show the dog lying beside a pink blanket or dressing gown, and a black suitcase with small white and orange owls.

The dog is wearing a black collar with steel studs and does not have any visible wounds.

Burnley MP Julie Cooper said the person responsible for this ‘horrible’ and ‘nasty’ act had to be found and action taken.

Taking to social media site Facebook, Tammy Parker, said: “How evil. The poor dog. How can anyone do that? I hope they find who has done this. They need to be sent to prison and never be able to even be near animals.”

Lyndsey Lyne also posted: “How can people be so cruel? I hope the owner is found and serves a sentence. RIP.”

And Susan Fielding added: “Why or how this can be done is beyond me. You don’t have to have a dog, so why pay good money to treat a poor defenceless animal like this? I hope they get caught and justice is done.”

A spokeswoman for the RPSCA said: “An inspector was called by a concerned walker who had found a brindle and white Staffordshire bull terrier type dog left dead near woodland in the Harold Way area of Burnley.

“The entire male dog - thought to be around seven years old - was found on Tuesday, June 30, alongside a canvas suitcase decorated with owls.

“The dog is not microchipped and did not appear to have any obvious signs of injury.

“If anyone has any information about this dog and how it came to be left here they can call our inspectorate line on 0300 123 8018.”

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman added: “We were called at 7.25pm to a report somebody had found a dead dog in an alleyway off Harold Street.

“We attended but we were waiting for the RSPCA to arrive, which they did at around 9pm.”

Mrs Cooper said: “I was brought up to respect all living things.

“This is a horrible and unpleasant thing to do. I just hope the person responsible is found and action taken.

“We don’t want any repetition of this kind of thing.”

Former Burnley MP Peter Pike said: “This is an appalling thing to do. I know the piece of land. It used to be a bit of an eyesore until local residents did it up themselves.

“I just don’t understand how people can do this sort of thing. I can’t stand this kind of animal cruelty myself having owned a dog for many years.”