Missing dog found dead in suitcase

A DOG which went missing on Bonfire Night was found dead in a suitcase on the side of a road.

Twelve-year-old Jack Russell Prince disappeared from the home of his owner’s friend in Raby Street, at around 11pm on November 5.

He was found near some garages within half a mile of where he went missing and his owners and the RSPCA have launched an appeal for information.

A member of the public called the RSPCA who saw a man dump the suitcase at around 6.30am.

RSPCA inspector Sandra Dransfield said: “The witness saw a dark coloured Astra size car reverse into the garage area which serves some of the houses on St Lawrence Road, near where it joins the A631 Bawtry Road.

“As it was dark and her view was obscured she couldn’t see how many people were in the car but believes it was a man who got out and left something in the bottom of a hedge.

“It wasn’t until it was getting light that she realised it was a blue suitcase and went to investigate and found Prince inside.”

Prince’s owner Jasmine Armstong (23) and her partner Leanne Oldfield (21) had spent days looking for him and set up a Facebook page appealing for information.

Inspector Dransfield added: “I saw a post on Facebook on Wednesday morning and my heart sank, I just knew it was the dog I’d collected the day before.

“I contacted Prince’s owner and she came to the local animal centre to identify him. It was a really heartbreaking day.

“Naturally she is devastated and wants to know what happened to her much loved pet.

“While there are no obvious signs of trauma to Prince - he just looked as though he was asleep - the way in which he was found is suspicious.

“If you have any specific information at all please contact the RSCPA as soon as possible.”

Leanne said Jasmine was still too upset to talk about the incident and having to identify Prince was heartbreaking.

“She couldn’t take anything in and when we were told how he was found she was even more upset - how could anyone do this?” said Leanne.

Two fundraising pages have now been set up by Jasmine’s friends - one page is appealing for donations that could be used as a reward for anyone that can provide information that leads to a conviction.

So far £325 has been donated and the second page has nearly reached its £250 target that will be donated towards a memorial for Prince.

Any money that is left at the end of the appeal will be donated to the RSPCA.

The owner has urged anyone with information or CCTV from around the area to come forward.

It is hoped a post-mortem will reveal the cause of death.

Visit the fundraising pages at http://tinyurl.com/hyrcdky and http://tinyurl.com/zk84ap6.

Anyone with any information should call the RSPCA inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Insp Dransfield.