THE owners of four golden retriever dogs found dumped in the Wye Valley are still unknown, despite animal lovers responding in droves to an online appeal.

Nick Jones found the “bedraggled and exhausted” dogs – an adult male and female and two pups – in Whitebrook, near the Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name, at 5am on Friday, October 27.

He says the RSPCA refused to assist, leaving him “flabbergasted”, but they were taken into

Four Paws Animal Rescue (South Wales) has now pledged to take on the care of the dogs, the Council’s seven statutory days for rehoming having passed, with a view to finding new homes.

None of the dogs had collars or microchips and, owing to their condition, they are still receiving veterinary care in kennels, costing hundreds

of pounds, for various conditions, including a

flea infestation, mange, ear/eye infections and possible kennel cough. They are also being vaccinated.

There is speculation that the four could be connected to an RSPCA and police raid on a farm 22 miles away two days’ earlier.

Mr Jones, who found the retrievers after his own dog raised the alarm, said he was shocked and dismayed that the RSPCA “refused to assist.”

“When I asked what I was supposed to do next, they told me to ring Monmouthshire County Council, which I then did.

“By contrast they were fantastic and the dog warden came to collect them the same day.”

The Four Paws Animal Rescue rehoming charity is seeking suitable foster homes before the dogs are matched to the best adoption home applicants.

The charity says anyone interested in making offers of fostering, adopting, donating, or assisting with transport should visit its website at www.fourpawsanimalrescue.org.uk and fill in the online forms.

Applicants for rehoming should not be put off by its published criteria for acceptance, as this is only for general guidance and not a strict policy, it says.