THREE puppies have been found dead in a weighted-down suitcase in the mouth of the River Wear.

The Staffordshire bull terrier types were found by water patrol officers at the Port of Sunderland on Barrack Street.

The dogs were aged four or five months, and are believed to be from the same litter.

All had a severe skin condition and appear to have been poisoned.

RSPCA Inspector Helen Bestwick said: “They had blue staining on their bodies and around their bottoms and there were signs of vomiting.

“We don’t know whether they were already dead when they went into the case, which was weighted down with two large stones, and into the water.

“Vets believe one of them died before the others.

“There were no scratch marks inside the case but it’s possible they were too ill to struggle, or unconscious.”

The grim discovery was made last Wednesday.

The dogs are described as a white and tan male with black markings on his face, a white and tan female and a white and tan male.

They were wrapped in a pale blue dressing gown, with no tags, a leopard print fur coat which was a size 18 from Peacocks and a white tea towel from Primark.

The suitcase was dark green plastic with the words ‘American Tourister’ on the lock.

The dogs were not wearing collars or identification tags and were not microchipped.

Inspector Bestwick said: “These puppies have suffered a great deal and I’m appealing for anyone who knows who they belong to, or who saw anything that might help my investigation, to get in touch.”

To contact Inspector Bestwick call 0300-123-8018.