TWO elderly bassett hounds barely able to walk are being cared for today after being dumped outside an Ipswich shop.

By MEYREM HUSSEIN

meyrem.hussein@eveningstar.co.uk

TWO elderly bassett hounds barely able to walk are being cared for today after being dumped outside an Ipswich shop.

The dogs, abandoned outside the Macmarket convenience store in Lindbergh Road around 1pm yesterday, were left slumped on the pavement until the RSPCA arrived four hours later.

With overgrown claws, blood-red eyes, raw-looking skin and lumps on their legs, the dogs looked a sorry sight.

Children from the area looked after the dogs and made sure they had enough water to drink until help arrived.

Peter Wong, 40, who owns East Ocean on Lindbergh Road, said: "I saw a man bringing two dogs. He went into the sweet shop and left the dogs outside. He hasn't come back since."

The owners of Macmarket were left frantically trying to contact the police, the local dog warden and the RSPCA.

Mayuri Patel, 38, who owns Macmarket said: "We rang the dog warden, the police and the RSPCA several times. It is disgusting that these dogs have been left here."

People living in the area were in shock that two dogs in such a bad state could have been dumped and left to fend for themselves.

A crowd of about 10 residents took it upon themselves to watch over the dogs and bring them water.

Lynn Andrews, 36, of Campbell Road, said: "The dogs are in a disgusting condition. They can hardly walk, they smell and they look half-dead."

The dogs were picked up by the RSPCA just before 5pm and were taken to Ipswich's Elmswell police station and should go into kennels tomorrow.

RSPCA inspector David Mitchell said: "I picked up the dogs as soon as I could. I am appalled that someone could leave dogs like that and just walk away – especially elderly dogs."

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