The RSPCA are appealing for information after a dead foal was found dumped in Flaunden last weekend.

The foal was discovered on a bridleway by residents passing by The Green Dragon Pub in Flaunden Hill on Saturday, February 14, tied with rope to a fence by its back leg.

Police from Hemel Hempstead were alerted and attended the scene at 16.22pm, and Dacorum Borough Council was also made aware and collected the body of the foal on Monday, February 16.

According to Lou Fuller, communications and consultation assistant at Dacorum Borough Council, the council scanned for a microchip but none was found. The council then reported the incident to the RSPCA.

On the Bovingdon Facebook page, residents commented on the incident, paying their respects and warning each other of the upsetting sight.

One resident said, "I don't understand why if a foal had died of natural causes they would go to the trouble of dumping it," and another resident described the incident as "utterly despicable".

Another mentioned that a man walking his dog had seen a black pickup truck dumping the foal, but was unable to get hold of the registration plate number.

Katya Mira, senior press officer for RSPCA South East, said: "We are always really sad to hear of animals callously discarded in this way and hope the horse did not suffer before he or she died.

"Anyone with any information about how he or she died, or evidence that an animal welfare offence may have been committed, should contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.

"Sadly cases like this are not uncommon. The country is currently in the grip of a horse crisis with the RSPCA and other horse welfare charities struggling to cope with the numbers of abandoned, neglected and abused horses.

"The RSPCA alone has more than 600 horses in its care and receives about 500 complaints relating to horse welfare every week, many of which involve horses grazed on other peoples' land."

The Watford Observer last reported a dead horse being dumped by the roadside in the Langleys in April 2012. The remains of an apparently mistreated thoroughbred horse were found in Bedmond Lane, Abbots Langley.

The RSPCA can prosecute animal cruelty cases in court.