Dogs and puppies have been found “neglected and starving” locked in outdoor cages at a Polish fur farm, investigators say.

Many of the long-haired animals – which looked like household pets – were pawing at the bars in a frantic effort to escape when investigators discovered them, it’s claimed.

The activists say the dogs were found alongside dozens of foxes that were destined to be killed for their pelts.

Many animals did not even have access to drinking water or food, and two of the rusty cages had rotting corpses inside, according to the witnesses.

“We were shocked,” said an investigator from animal-welfare group Open Cages. “It was appalling to see the animals in so much fear and distress.”

The reality of fur farming: in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 The reality of fur farming: in pictures The reality of fur farming: in pictures A fox at a fur farm in Pushkino, Russia AFP/Getty The reality of fur farming: in pictures Black and silver mink kits in a small cage at a fur farm in British Columbia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures A black mink chewing at the bars of their cage at a fur farm in British Columbia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Mink kits lying atop a dead mink in a nesting box at a fur farm in Sweden, 2010 Jo-Anne McArthur / Djurrattsalliansen The reality of fur farming: in pictures Mink crammed into a filthy cage at a fur farm in Quebec, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Injured mink kits at a fur farm in Sweden, 2010 Jo-Anne McArthur / Djurrattsalliansen The reality of fur farming: in pictures "No leg". Mink farm in British Columbia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures A mink in small cage at a fur farm in British Columbia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Orylag rabbits at a fur farm in Vandre, France AFP/Getty The reality of fur farming: in pictures Mink living in cages over piles of feces at a fur farm in Sweden, 2010 Jo-Anne McArthur / Djurrattsalliansen The reality of fur farming: in pictures An employee carries a blue fox at a fur farm near Babino, a village in Belarus AFP/Getty The reality of fur farming: in pictures Fox cubs at a fur farm in Zhangjiakou, in China's Hebei province AFP/Getty The reality of fur farming: in pictures An employee carries a blue fox at a fur farm near Lesino, a village in Belarus AFP/Getty The reality of fur farming: in pictures Several mink, silver and albino, crammed into a filthy cage at a fur farm in Quebec, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Rows of filthy mink cages at a fur farm in Quebec, 2010. On a tip that the animals were being treated poorly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the SPCA were granted a warrant to perform an inspection and seize animals from a fur farm in Quebec. They rescued and re-homed several animals, but had to euthanize many that were too sick, old, injured, dehydrated and starving. This seizure led to the first ever criminal charges against a fur farmer in Canada Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Pile of dead mink on old, broken cages behind a fur farm in Sweden, 2010 Jo-Anne McArthur / Djurrattsalliansen The reality of fur farming: in pictures A mink feeds off a dead fellow in a filthy cage at a fur farm in Quebec, Canada, 2014. Mink are solitary animals who fight, cannibalise and kill when in cramped confinement like this Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Aerial view of a large fur farms in Nova Scotia, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory The reality of fur farming: in pictures Mink kits crammed in to a small cage at a fur farm in Sweden, 2010. The paper notes that there were ten in this cage and now two have died; eight remain Jo-Anne McArthur / Djurrattsalliansen The reality of fur farming: in pictures Aerial view of a large fur farms in Nova Scotia, Canada Aerial view of a large fur farms in Nova Scotia, Canada, 2014 Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory

The activists filmed an initial rescue of six dogs – one with a broken leg – and four foxes, taking them to be treated by vets. They later returned and saved 11 more animals.

They are still investigating the farm, in south-western Poland, in an attempt to have it closed down.

It was not clear why dogs were being kept at the farm or whether any had been slaughtered for their fur.

The owner told the activists he was keeping the dogs to scare off thieves, but it was not clear how they could do that from inside cages, the group said.

Some foxes were seen in the video racing up and down their small cages in distress.

“Appalling conditions like this are not unusual in the fur industry,” the investigator said.

“Millions of animals are slaughtered every year for their fur. The cramped conditions, and isolation of individuals, makes this industry unavoidably cruel.

“For animals that are adapted to roam vast distances every day, living in a tight cage is torture.”

Fur farms have been banned in the UK since 2000, but it’s estimated that since then Britain has imported more than £650m worth of animal fur.

Opponents of the trade say Brexit is a chance to ban imports, which was impossible under EU single market rules.

Vets, animal-behaviour experts and Springwatch host Chris Packham have called for the UK to stop supporting the trade.

Rescuers said at least one fox needed an amputation because of painful foot abscesses.

Connor Jackson, chief executive of Open Cages, said: “While it is outrageous to see beloved dogs kept in cages on fur farms, this is a reality for terrified foxes and minks daily – until they are violently killed and skinned for their fur.”

Fur trade chiefs said the farm was not legal and that they had notified prosecutors that the farm may have been conducting illegal breeding.

But Open Cages said the farm was legal as it was “in the register of the main veterinary inspection”.

Fur farms have been accused of causing not just agonising physical injuries and infections that go untreated, but also psychological stress and even cannibalism.

Some of Britain’s most upmarket department stores and fashion websites still sell fur clothing.

Some of the animals found were just puppies (Open Cages)

The Independent could not contact the farm, but the Polish Fur Breeders’ Association said it was shocked by the “disgusting” way animals were treated there.

The farm owner, an 83-year-old, also kept cats and goats, and was not a member of the association, a spokeswoman said.

Daniel Chmielewski, chairman of the association, said the place had been a fox farm but it was no longer officially registered as such and not subject to state checks.

“We do not have information about how many animals have been kept on this farm as it is not a functioning fur farm but I assure you local authorities are handling the case, as they do in all cases of animal neglect.

“There exist no incentives to farm dogs and cats for their fur in Europe. The sale of pelts, as well as farming of dogs and cats for fur, is strictly forbidden by EU law.”