THE RSPCA is appealing for information after inspectors spotted three men thought to be intending to carry out makeshift surgery on a dog.

Two society inspectors and a local authority animal welfare officer were driving past Catchgate Allotments, off Swan Street, near Stanley, County Durham, on an unrelated matter when they spotted the men holding surgical equipment and standing over the dog.

Immediately investigating, they saw the black greyhound-type dog had an open wound to his side.

They attempted to approach the men, who fled with the dog, and one of the trio took off in a silver Nissan 4x4 vehicle.

RSPCA inspector Catherine Maddison said: “This was an extremely worrying and very unusual sight, and we’re strongly encouraging anyone with information about these men are to let us know.

“We saw the men holding this poor dog down on the top of kennel in the allotment, and the closer we got we could see blood on one of the man’s hands, and a wound on the dog.

“It’s possible they were attempting to carry out a DIY castration

“It is extremely worrying that we couldn’t get to them before they managed to run off and one drove away, so we really need the public’s help to assist us in tracing them, as we are very worried for this dog’s welfare.”

All three men were white and one appeared to be in his 50s or 60s, and was wearing a black beanie hat, with blood covered hands, carrying surgical implements.

Another, the man who fled in the Nissan vehicle, is thought to be in his 30s or 40s and was wearing a beige jacket.

The third male was in his 20s and was wearing jogging bottoms and a sweater.

He was tall and slim with dark hair and was seen running across a nearby field, pulling the dog behind him on a lead.

Inspector Maddison and her colleagues called the police immediately.

They noticed blood on top of the kennel and a bloodied table knife in the allotment, along with a large amount of manure, suggesting a horse was probably being kept at the site until recently.

She urged anyone with information as to the identites of the trio, or the dog which was apparently being ‘operated’ on, to get in touch via a special RSPCA hotline.

Inspector Maddison added: “Anyone with any information, no matter how small, can contact me in complete confidence by calling our inspector’s appeal line number.

“We are so worried for this poor dog and the fact that these men were seen with equipment which might suggest this is not the first time they have done this.”

  • The appeal number is 0300-123 8018.