The RSPCA has launched an investigation after the body of a burned and badly beaten dog was found dumped in Bradford.

The body of the tan and white lurcher was found dumped with a pile of rubbish in Cliffe Hollins Lane, which runs between the Oakenshaw and East Bierley areas, last Monday night by the fire service who were called to the blaze - a pile of rubbish that had been set alight.

The RSPCA has issued distressing images of the dog to highlight the severity of the case.

RSPCA Inspector Sarah Bagley said: “Fire crews found the dog alongside the rubbish. The body was burned but the major injuries to the dog were not caused by fire.

“The dog’s body was taken to a vet who did an examination and found the dog had suffered a broken jaw, two broken legs - with both back legs snapped - and a large wound to the abdomen with the intestines protruding.

“The vet believes these injuries were caused to the dog while she was still alive and before she died. They think she was then set on fire at the same time as the pile of rubbish she had been dumped on.”

Cleckheaton Ward Councillor John Lawson was horrified, saying: "It's appalling and they need to catch whoever did this as soon as possible.

"This kind of cruelty is unacceptable. 

"It's just an awful piece of news, especially for dog owners because as they know, if you have a dog it's part of the family."

Birstall and Birkenshaw Ward Councillor Mark Thompson added: "It's abhorrent and as a ward councillor, it just makes you feel impotent.

"As an animal lover, you have to wonder what kind of thought process these people go through. I just can't understand it."

Kathleen Easton was featured in Monday’s Telegraph & Argus.

She set up a Facebook group called Help Find Stolen Luna to try and recover her sister in law’s beloved pooch, which was stolen from Torre Road, off Cooper Lane, in Bradford last January

She reacted to this story by warning that incidents like this one on Cliffe Hollins Lane were far more common than you might think.

She said: “It’s not a one off in Bradford, there was a dog hung here last year for example.

“There was a shocking incident in Lancashire recently too, where a puppy was stolen for a day, and the sadistic thieves went back to the house and hung the dog from the gate.

“That’s what the family saw when they opened the curtains the next morning.

“It’s happening up and down the country, with West Yorkshire high up on the statistics”

Ms Easton added: “More awareness needs to be raised. It’s devastating what it does to families, as it removes an important member.

“A lot of people at the moment are terrified to even leave their dogs in the house when they go to work."

The poor lurcher involved in last Monday's incident, a 10-year-old bitch, was microchipped and RSPCA officers have spoken with her owners who are from the local area.

“We’ve spoken to this dog’s owners and they told us she’d gone missing around eight weeks ago,” Inspector Bagley added.

“The veterinary evidence suggests that this poor dog was alive when these hideous injuries were inflicted and this is extremely worrying. We’re concerned that this dog may have suffered severely before she died."

Telegraph & Argus readers were quick to voice their distress and disgust on Facebook.

Mackenzie Muffy blasted: "Animal cruelty should have the same punishment as cruelty to people."

Meanwhile, Adele Broadbent wrote: "I can't even read. Such cruel people about."

The RSPCA confirmed: “We’ve launched an investigation into what happened and would urge anyone with any information that could assist our enquiries to contact us on 0300 123 8018.”

To help the RSPCA continue investigating animal cruelty, please donate by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/give.