The Louth SPCA has appealed to dog owners not to dump their pet when it dies but to instead, “ask to help.”

The plea was made by SPCA Inspector Fiona Squibb after the body of a Doberman was left on a laneway between two estates in the town.

“The dog’s legs were clearly visible to people using the laneway, including school children, and the dog was very thin and showed signs of being malnourished,” she said.

She estimates the dog was about 2 years old and it’s nails were long indicating it may have kept in a back yard and never walked.

The laneway was between Coxes Demesne and O’Hanlon Park in Dundalk and “Lots of people called both the council and us about it. I think the bag it was put had been on the lane for some time but the dog had only been there a couple of days.”

With the assistance of the county Litter Warden she checked for a micro-chip but there was none and she said that the charity had to pay the bill for the vet to properly dispose of the remains.

It is believed the dog was dumped there at night-time last weekend.

“This was so sad. And it is not the first dead dog that has been dumped. Why would an owner not just bury the dog or ask for help? We have helped families before when their pet has died. We have to take the body to the vets and are charged. Most pet owners are pleased to have the help and to pay the money. Dumping this poor dog not appropriate.”