THESE gorgeous four-day-old pups were put in a carrier bag weighed down by a paving slab and dumped in a freezing South Yorkshire canal.
But the cute pups managed to survive the "horrendous act of cruelty" because the water was frozen solid.
The four puppies – now named Bruce, Barry, Gareth and Jacob by RSPCA staff – were saved from drowning by the ice and discovered in the nick of time, before hypothermia set in, by a passing walker.
Kate Payton from the RSPCA shelter in Stadium Way, Attercliffe, said the pups – believed to be Rottweilers aged just three or four days old – were fortunate the ice didn't crack under the weight of the paving slab.
They pooches were found by a man out walking along the canal near Chippingham Street, Darnall, just before 2pm on Sunday. Fire crews from Darnall constructed a pole and net to reach the puppies, who were stranded around 20ft from the side of the bank.
Crew manager Chris Lally said: "The puppies were so small they could fit in the palm of our hands.
"They were obviously extremely cold and we did our best to keep them warm until they were taken by the RSPCA officers to be checked over by vets."
Kate said the dogs appeared to be recovering well from their ordeal.
She said: "Why on earth would someone decide to do something like that?
"Hypothermia followed by drowning – I just can't imagine why they thought that was the best way to deal with it. It just beggars belief. Nobody asked us for help and we can only offer help if people ask for it."
The puppies are now being hand-reared by foster carers used to looking after dogs with special needs.
Matt Bell, RSPCA chief inspector for South Yorkshire said the incident was "a horrendous act of cruelty" and urged anyone with information about the owner or any witnesses to get in touch.
He added: "These puppies were treated in the most callous way, thrown into the river in a black bin liner, weighted down with a paving slab.
"We're also very concerned for the welfare of the mother.
"Anyone who knows where these puppies came from should call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line as soon as possible on 0300 1234 999 and ask to leave a message for me."
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