AN RSPCA inspector has hit out at the callous person who abandoned four dogs by tying them to a tree with a piece of rope.

Dave Anforth was appalled after he heard the dogs had been left in woodland near the Shepherd's Rest pub between Blackburn and Rishton, and were only discovered when a woman noticed them while walking her own dogs.

Susan Proctor, of Sarmatian Fold, Ribchester, was out walking her two German Shepherds when she came across the dogs. She thought something was wrong when they were still there hours later, and contacted the RSPCA.

Mr Anforth said: "If the lady who found the dogs hadn't been walking in the woods they could have strangled on the rope, hanged themselves, or starved to death.

"The dogs were quite distressed when they were found. They were in a good condition which shows they had a responsible owner which makes it all the more callous. There are ways of dealing with unwanted pets but this is not one of them."

The brown and white mongrels (pictured) are all female, and are believed to be from the same family.

If anyone knows anything about the dogs, or would like to offer them a home, contact the RSPCA on 0990 555 999 or the shelter at Altham on 01254 231118.

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