THE blood-soaked corpse of a dog has been found in a ditch with suspected gunshot wounds .

The male bull terrier-type dog was found face-down in a brook in fields off Holway Road, Holywell, known locally as the Bridge, on Monday.

Two small wounds were found in its neck which the RSPCA suspects are pellet wounds.

Officers also believe the animal suffered a severe trauma to the head due to its face and neck being covered in blood.

RSPCA Inspector Fred Armstrong said: “This was a truly shocking discovery which has caused great distress to the finder.”

Officers suspect the dog was dumped on Sunday or Monday.

Police have made inquiries with nearby farmers but to no avail.

Anyone with information is urged to call the RSPCA National Cruelty and Advice Line on 0300 1234 999 and leave a message for Inspector Armstrong.

Elsewhere, a swan was killed in Oakenholt, according to residents.

The bird was seen with a stake through its body on the banks of Pandy Pool.

Violet Conwy from Oakenholt spotted the swan when she was walking her dog.

She said: “I walked the dog at about eight on Tuesday morning and saw the swan looking a bit sorry for itself with its head tucked under. I tried to have a better look but I couldn’t get to it. I went for another walk around midday and went to get a builder from one of the houses to have a look. He went up and saw it was dead.”

Oakenholt councillor Rita Johnson said: "There had been two swans on the pond. It's awful this has happened.”

Violet added: “I’ve been living in Oakenholt 36 years now and it’s only recently we've had trouble.”

An RSPCA spokesman said: “We received a report of a dead swan impaled with a stick. One of our inspectors followed it up but it had already been removed.

“This sort of thing is of great concern. Sadly when animals are attacked in this way it tends to be water birds because they are easy targets as nobody is looking after them directly."