What began as an ordinary bike ride turned into a moment that 58-year-old Paul Skinner would never forget. While pedaling through the quiet countryside with a friend, Paul caught a flicker of movement from the edge of the road that made him instinctively squeeze his brakes.
Nestled in the overgrown grass of a ditch was something barely moving — and it wasn’t long before Paul realized he had stumbled upon a heartbreaking scene.
As he carefully approached, Paul discovered a weak and visibly distressed cocker spaniel. The poor creature looked like it had been left behind, drained of energy and hope. But what truly stopped Paul in his tracks was the plastic bag the dog gently held in its mouth.
“At first, I thought it was just roadkill — maybe a bird,” Paul shared with Metro UK. “But then it shifted slightly, and I knew I had to take a closer look.”
The unsettling scene unfolded in Lincolnshire, England. As Paul got nearer, he could see the dog was alone, quietly licking the remains of food inside a discarded fish and chips bag — likely the only nourishment she’d had in a long time. But it wasn’t the food that made Paul’s stomach drop — it was what he found inside the bag.
Peering into it, Paul discovered something devastating: four tiny, lifeless puppies.
“She had been carrying them in her mouth,” he said. “She looked up at me, and I swear there were tears in her eyes. It broke my heart. I can’t comprehend how anyone could do something so cruel.”
Without hesitation, Paul contacted a local animal rescue organization and an emergency shelter. Rescue workers responded quickly, but tragically, they were too late to save the puppies.
A veterinarian later examined the pups and determined they had likely been born the same day they were abandoned. Authorities believe they may have been alive when they were discarded — possibly succumbing to the cold or being stillborn. Either way, the act was unimaginably callous.
“The mother dog stayed with them, even after they were gone,” police said in a statement. “We’re incredibly grateful to the cyclist who found her and alerted authorities, and to Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary for stepping in so quickly.”
Thankfully, the mama dog — now named Carly — had a microchip, but it only traced back to a breeder, not her current owner.
Carly was taken in by the shelter, where she finally received the care and love she deserved. And though she had been abandoned, her loyalty never wavered — she stayed by her puppies’ side until help came.
Her story is a powerful reminder of the emotional depth animals possess — and how, even in their most vulnerable moments, their capacity for love often outshines that of the humans who fail them.
Carly’s journey isn’t just a tale of survival — it’s a call to action. A plea for kindness. And a testament to the strength of a mother’s love, no matter the species.