ANIMAL welfare officers are trying to trace the owner of two lurcher-type dogs which were thrown over a high fence into a school playground.
The dogs had to be rescued after a resident saw a man abandoning them at Haysholm School in Bank Street, Irvine, at around 6pm on Saturday.
The lurchers – a black and white female and a black male – are recovering from their ordeal at the Scottish SPCA's animal rescue and rehoming centre in Glasgow. They have been named Holly and Willow.
Inspector Stewart Taylor said: "It appears these dogs were lifted up over a 6ft fence and dumped into the school grounds, where they remained trapped until I was able to remove them.
"Both are in satisfactory body condition and are very friendly and affectionate, so it's likely they have been someone's pets up until now.
"It's lucky a member of the public witnessed this happening, as the school was closed for the weekend and the public holiday.
"They could have been trapped without food and water for three full days.
"We're very keen to trace the owner of these dogs, because abandoning an animal is an offence and anyone found guilty of doing so can be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period, or for life."
Anyone with information relating to the incident should contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
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