THE young dogs pictured on the right could have been without proper food for as long as three months, according to vets.

The pair are thought to have survived by scavenging for scraps before being taken in by the Hobos rescue centre at Evenwood, where staff were so alarmed at their condition they placed them in the care of Bishop Auckland vet Paul Wilson.

The RSPCA immediately launched a search for their owners and appealed to readers of The Northern Echo for help.

Inspector Gavin Butterfield said: "They are in a terrible state. They are literally skin and bone. One is a black and white Staffordshire terrier cross and the other is a medium- sized red mongrel. They are both lovely dogs and probably not more than three years old.

"We are determined to find whoever is responsible for their condition. It is very rare that someone does something like this deliberately. More often they just don't care that they are starving."

A veterinary surgery spokesman said: "They were probably locked away until a couple of days before they were found at the end of last week.

"They were at the end of their tether for survival and we will try our best to fatten them up but they have probably not been fed properly for three months."

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA on 08705 555999