THE Forester readers are being asked to help clear up the mystery of why these four Golden Retrievers were lost or abandoned in Whitebrook, near Bigsweir in the Wye Valley.

The dogs appear to be a family, male and female adults and two pups, and were found on Sunday morning by the owner of a restaurant looking rather bedraggled and in a sorry state.

There is speculation that they may have been abandoned following a raid on an unlicensed puppy breeder in Monmouthshire, but this remains unconfirmed.

Karen Cockfield of St Briavels, who is among a number of people trying to trace the owners or find them a new home, said: “They look as if they have been alone for some time. They are very tame, but quite afraid and dependent upon the adult male.

“The RSPCA did not want to know, so they have been taken to a vets for some treatment and checking over, and have some bite marks.

“They are now being cared for in kennels arranged by the Four Paws charity.

“The intention then is to send them to a re-homing centre. It would be fantastic for them to find a home that can keep them together, or at least in pairs.”

Kirsty Thomas, founder of ‘Four Paws Animal Rescue, said that she has authorised further veterinary expenditure to be spent on the four dogs yesterday to improve their health.