Dogs have been locked in a house on Pelham Street, Newark, for three weeks and have grown emaciated as neighbours call on RSPCA and Nottinghamshire Police to act before it’s too late

Emaciated dogs locked inside a property have been seen licking condensation from a window pane for the moisture as neighbours beg for their rescue.

The three pets are said to have been left behind when a family moved out, shut inside one room of a locked rented house, rarely given water or food amid some of the hottest temperatures on record for the time of year.

The neighbours on Pelham Street, Newark, say they cannot for the life of them understand why the RSPCA hasn’t rescued the dogs, one of which is said to now be incredibly weak.

They have contacted the RSPCA for virtually every day of the past three weeks and have lambasted the animal charity for only posting notes on the door in an effort to contact the owners.

Police did attend on Saturday night and managed to get some food through an open window for the dogs, who allegedly haven’t seen the outdoors for weeks, and they’re surrounded by their own filfth.

Pelham Street resident Jenny Crossme said: “I speak for five or six of my neighbours who are sick with worry for these dogs.

“We understand that a couple who lived there separated and have left the dogs behind.

“They haven’t been out of the property in weeks despite the heat and the room they are in is full of faeces and urine.

“And yet all the RSPCA do is put notes on the door.

“We are exceptionally worried. They are in a very distressed state. Sometimes we hear barking well into the night.

“We don’t think they have long left. They are emaciated. Almost skeletal. They are living in their own filth. It may already be too late for one of them who seems beyond help becuase they are so very weak.

“We’ve done all we can. Turned to everyone we can think of. What does it take to save the lives of these three dogs?”

Retired paramedic David Brewer said: “I’ve pushed food through the window and ice cubes to make them cooler. When the police went in I asked them if the dogs had food and they said no, and only a ¼ inch of filthy water in the bottom of the bowl. That’s why a dog hanlder went and got some.

“I asked them, pleaded with them, to take the three dogs away, but they said they couldn’t and it would be up to the RSPCA as under the law they’re classed as property. It’s like a game of ping pong between the police and the RSPCA .

“I told them if they were unwilling I’d set them free myself and was told that everything was on camera and I would be arrested for breaking and entering if I did.”

“The RSPCA has not even seen these dogs. They’re on an excrement and urine-covered concrete floor with no bedding in a house that stinks so badly you’d think there was a dead body in there.”

Sandra Mackay described the stench coming from the property as overpowering and said: “On the TV it shows the RSPCA rescuing animals, not the experience these poor dogs have received.”

Police traced someone on Saturday evening who claimed to be connected to the property, which is said to now have rats in the yard. Neighbours said they had never seen the man before and although he pledged at the scene he would take care of the animals, the only thing that changed is the dogs have been moved from the upstairs front bedroom to a downstairs back room where there is less chance of them being heard.

Under the law, police can effect entry into a property should the RSPCA request it and have obtained a warrant.

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, police district commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “Officers attended a house in Pelham Street, Newark, at around 7.20pm on Saturday after concerns were raised about the welfare of dogs inside the address.

"The owners of the dogs in question have been traced and spoken to, and the matter has been referred to the RSPCA.”

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “It is not always appropriate for us to publicise information about our frontline work for legal and data protection reasons. We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, where necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.”