RSPCA Cymru officers are investigating after three dead puppies were found shoved inside a small box and dumped in a bush.
The animals, thought to be barely a fortnight old, were discovered having been laid top to tail in the cardboard container by a man out walking his dog in the area of Frederick Street in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Thursday, February 11.
"The three puppies were all squashed inside a kind of shoebox," said Inspector Leigh Summers.
"They still had their eyes closed, so I suspect they were less than two weeks old.”
The puppies - two brown with white patches and one white - are thought to have been Staffie types and showed no obvious injuries or cause of death.
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"They may well have tragically died of natural causes, but it's suspicious that they were dumped and hidden in this manner.
"So I'm keen to establish exactly what’s happened," she added.
"We now have the bodies in our possession and are ready to launch an investigation if anyone can come forward with information that suggests they may have been badly treated or improperly killed.
"I'd encourage anyone who may assist our enquiries to get in touch by calling our inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018."
