Two eight-week-old puppies were found fighting for their lives after being abandoned in a cage ‘in the middle of nowhere’.

An investigation has been launched after the poorly pups were found by a dog walker when his pet alerted him to the find in a field in Idbury, Chipping Norton.

Sadly, only one puppy, nicknamed Barney, pulled through and the RSPCA is now investigating the crime that lead to the death of four dogs.

Three others were already dead when they were found.

Inspector Lauren Bailey said: “The cage was dumped in the centre of a field in the middle of nowhere. 

“No one could have stumbled across them and saved them in time. In fact, the only reason they were found is because a walker’s dog dragged him over.

“I suspect they were all alive when they were dumped, with a bowl of food but with no water or shelter, and one by one they perished. 

“The three bodies were riddled with maggots so I believe they had been dead for a few days.”

The puppy litter is a mixture of brown and white cross-breeds and were left in a metal straw-lined crate without water.

Surviving puppy Barney is believed to be a beagle cross Jack Russell and will be looking for a forever home in the near future.

The pooch is now recovering in a foster home for the time being as he is treated for food poisoning and will need an operation to remove an ingrown eyelash.

Inspector Bailey added: “I am keen to hear from anyone who might recognise these pups or who knows how they ended up abandoned here. To leave vulnerable, defenceless puppies alone in the cold wintry weather is unthinkable and, sadly, most of these babies have lost their lives.”

She added: “It could be that they were an unplanned litter and their owners simply didn’t know what to do with them.

“Or, it could be something much more sinister, and this litter could have been dumped by a puppy farmer in the area who failed to sell them and didn’t want to use up any more resources on them.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0300 123 8018.