Bolton: RSPCA issues appeal after neglected dog's body found

The RSPCA has issued an appeal after the body of an "clearly neglected" dog was found in a suitcase in Halliwell.

"Rita", a bull mastiff/Staffordshire cross, was found wrapped in a blue curtain and a bedsheet and stuffed into a suitcase in the wooded area by Brownlow Way around 2pm on Sunday, January 15.

A man out walking in the area spotted the suitcase which has been placed behind a tree and hidden in brambles.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Jess Pierce attended the scene after the charity was contacted about the shocking incident.

She discovered Rita had been zipped up in the suitcase and was clearly in a very bad state of neglect.

Rita's body shows her to be emaciated - extremely malnourished (Image: RSPCA)

Jess scanned Rita and discovered she was microchipped, which revealed her name and that she was six-years-old, although she had been rehomed by her previous owner some years ago and the current owner’s details were not up to date.

A vet who examined Rita said he thought she may have been in the suitcase for three to four days, although it was not possible to tell if she was already dead when she had been placed inside.   

Jess said: “I was shocked by Rita’s appalling condition and horrified that someone could have dumped her so callously in a suitcase and then attempted to conceal her body.

“Someone must know who owned Rita or recognise the suitcase she was found in and we’d urge local residents and anyone else who can help us, to contact our inspectorate appeal line in confidence on 0300 123 8018 so we can move this investigation forward.”

The suitcase Rita was found in (Image: RSPCA)

The charity would also like to hear from people living in the Brownlow Way, Prince Street, or Merehall Drive areas of Bolton who may have CCTV or Ring doorbell footage.

This is not the first time that a dog has been found in similar circumstances in the borough recently.

In December last year a dead dog was found dumped in a suitcase in Clifton and in September a bulldog’s battered body was found in a pram in an alleyway between Jauncey Street and Parkinson Street.

Earlier this month a man was jailed for 22 weeks after he and his partner dumped their dog in a suitcase by the River Mersey in Liverpool.

The RSPCA was able to take the case to court following a successful media appeal for information.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.