THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after 15 sick puppies - thought to be from two different litters - were dumped in a crate on a road in Pitsea.

A member of the public found the weak, whimpering pups on Monday evening (6 September) on a road near Basildon Crematorium - and immediately took them to a vet, who was so shocked by their condition that they contacted the RSPCA to investigate.

One puppy was dead on arrival and three puppies were so poorly they put down by the vet.

The remaining 11 puppies - all Cockapoo types - are poorly with diarrhoea and are being closely monitored.

RSPCA inspector Chloe Frost, who is investigating, said: "It is so shocking that such a large number of puppies were dumped, especially as they were all so poorly.

"They had all been dumped in a dirty crate with no food or water and in such hot temperatures too. We're so thankful that they were found as now the remaining pups have a chance of survival.

"We don't know at this stage if they came from a puppy farm and then abandoned when it was realised how poorly they were. We also can't rule out that they are the result of a demand for 'lockdown' puppies - and we are concerned about what will happen to more 'lockdown puppies' over the coming months."

Anyone who has any information about the puppies is asked to contact the RSPCA's appeals line in confidence on 0300 123 8018.

There was a huge surge in demand for dogs during lockdown as families made the most of spending more time at home and now the RSPCA is concerned about a potential increase in abandoned puppies over the coming months as a result of puppies bought during the pandemic.

A statement says: "We know that there has been an increased interest in pet ownership - during lockdown last year, between March 23 and December 31, the RSPCA's Find a Pet section of the website had 39,835,657 views compared to 23,681,542 in the same period the previous year. This is a rise of 68%.

"The number of views to the RSPCA website pages about rehoming a dog surged 87% from 540,524 to 1,013,795 over the same period."