The RSPCA is appealing for information after a female pocket bully with cropped ears – which is an illegal procedure in England and Wales – has been found dead in the Manchester Ship Canal.

The dog’s body was retrieved from the water at Colgate Lane in Salford on Tuesday afternoon, January 30 by RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Jess Pierce after she had been sighted by several members of the public.

According to the animal welfare charity, the female pocket bully was ‘severely bloated’ and is thought to have been in the canal for at least two days.

The brown-coloured dog had cropped ears which is a painful procedure which can cause long-term harm and wasn’t microchipped or wearing a collar.

She was taken by Jess to be examined at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where an x-ray revealed no obvious injuries, and the vet said it wasn’t possible to determine whether she was alive or dead when she entered the water.

She also had enlarged teats and had given birth at some point in the past.

Jess said: “It was a really distressing sight for members of the public to come across and such a sad and wholly unacceptable end for a dog who has raised puppies and presumably been someone’s pet. 

“The flow of the canal here is quite fast so we don’t know if she went into the water at this location or if she’s been taken along by the current.

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“It’s possible she may have fallen in, and being a thick-set dog has been unable to get back out again, but we aren’t aware of any reports in this area of a missing pocket bully which matches her description. 

“We think another scenario is that her welfare has been compromised - particularly given she had cropped ears - which is an illegal process here - and she’s been deliberately abandoned and thrown in the water.

“We’re appealing to anyone who has first-hand knowledge about this incident to get in touch with us.”

People with information can contact the RSPCA’s inspectorate appeal line, in confidence, on 0300 123 8018 quoting incident number 1215881.

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