Dog and ducks decapitated

A DECAPITATED dog has been discovered by walkers in the Chesterfield Canal near the town, following the report of decapitated ducks.

The headless body of a Staffordshire Terrier was seen by towpath walkers in the Chesterfield Canal below Tapton Lock, (pictured) who called the police, reports Alan Tilbury.

Remains pulled out

The two men who discovered the remains of the dog pulled the body out of the water before realising it had had obviously had its head chopped off.

It was a short while ago that headless ducks had been discovered nearby, that is most worrying to the local RSPCA.

Shocked

It was walker Ricky Stuart who dragged the body from the water, telling he saw the white lump in the water, thinking it was a dead duck, so pulled it out, to be shocked at what he then discovered.

RSPCA officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the dog's death. There were 62 reports of animal cruelty in Derbyshire during 2011, with 32 convictions, with some receiving prison sentences.