The RSPCA didn’t initially realise the animals were dogs (Picture: Winchester City Council)

A group of abandoned poodles were found in such a shocking state that the RSPCA did not initially realise they were dogs.

The poodles, which had their faces completely obscured by overgrown and matted fur, were unable to see or stand after being found by animal rescue officers in Winchester yesterday.

And RSPCA and city council employees admitted they at first struggled to identify what the dogs were because of the appalling condition they were in.

‘In my 25 years of being in this line of work I’ve never seen anything like it,’ Winchester City Council’s senior animal welfare officer, Dave Griffiths, told MailOnline.




‘Because they are all poodles or poodle crosses and from the same litter, it is likely that they are from one owner.

MORE: Teenage thugs blow up dog with fireworks in horrific video

The dogs took three hours each to have their fur clipped (Picture: Solent News)

‘My guess is that the puppies were mistreated all their lives and have always been in awful conditions.

‘I suspect they have been keeping them in an outside outhouse or a shed.’

After spending three hours per dog clipping their fur, vets found that the animals weighed just 12kg each – half the size of a healthy poodle.

Mr Griffiths, who thinks the pets could be worth anywhere from £300 to £500 as puppies, said he is hoping none of the dogs will have to be put down.

‘We take in about 150 to 200 dogs every year but I’ve never seen anything as bad as this before,’ he said.

MORE: Desperate pet owner hires helicopter to find missing dog