A HAMPSHIRE animal rescue charity has branded those responsible for dumping a dog into a river as "monsters".

Now a Daily Echo reader and animal lover is offering a reward for information that leads to the callous killers, who threw a Cocker spaniel into a river at Nursling, being brought to justice.

Yesterday the Daily Echo published the disturbing picture of the drowned animal, which had a 10kg dumb-bell tied to her brown leather lead, being lifted out of the River Test near Mill Lane.

The barbaric cruelty on a defenceless animal has shocked the public.

Jeanette Craven, of West Totton, said that when she saw the Daily Echo picture she was sickened and close to tears.

Now she is offering a £100 reward for anyone who has information which will lead to the prosecution of the person or people responsible.

An animal lover, the 53-year-old grandmother said: "I want whoever did this to be put away.

"I just cannot understand how anyone can carry out such a cruel and barbaric act on a dumb and defenceless animal. They must be sick.

"I would like to see the same happen to them and a dumb-bell weight tied round their neck."

Anitra Hillman, manager of the Fair Oak based St Francis Animal Shelter - which over the years has taken in thousands of abandoned animals - joined in the condemnation of the callous act.

She said: "This is absolutely disgusting and despicable.

"The people who have done this are monsters. I cannot understand the mentality of these people."

Mrs Hillman said it was a calculated deed carried out by sick people who were not fit to be in the community.

She said: "This is murder and the people who have done this should be put in prison."

Mrs Hillman said that in the past abandoned dogs had been tied up at the rescue shelter's gates and they had been given shelter.

She said that was far better than subjecting an animal to such trauma and grotesque cruelty.

Appalled at the act of deliberate cruelty, the RSPCA is also appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesman said that film from a closed-circuit TV camera was not of sufficient quality to provide any clues.

Investigations were continuing and results of a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of the animal's death were expected in a week's time.

Anyone who has information about the incident which happened over the weekend should contact the police on 0845 045 4545 or the RSPCA on 0870 555 5999.