Three pet guinea pigs have been beaten to death with bricks after being stolen from a garden in Coventry.
The bodies were found in an alleyway between Alliance Way and Gun Lane.
RSPCA inspector Chris Heyworth said it was one of the worst mutilation cases he had seen and appealed for help to catch those responsible.
He added: "Sometimes I just cannot believe what I am seeing when you go to a scene like that.You see animals that have obviously been cruelly treated."
He added: "I have been an RSPCA inspector for nearly 14 years and you cannot get any worse than this."