Two tiny puppies died after they were dumped in a bin bag 'like a piece of rubbish'.
The Shih Tzu siblings - thought to only be around 12 weeks old - were found in a black bin liner at the side of a bin in Atherton, the RSPCA said.
One of the puppies had already sadly died.
The other was taken in for emergency veterinary care but died from parvovirus - a highly contagious life-threatening disease in dogs.
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The RSPCA has now launched an investigation to try and find the person who dumped the 'terrified' pups.
Animal welfare officer Steve Wickham said if they had not been found, the puppy that was still alive would have 'suffered a slow and lingering death'.
"I am keen to find the callous person responsible for dumping these pups like pieces of rubbish", he said.
"This poor puppy was terrified and it must have been an awful ordeal for her cramped up in a basket with her dead sibling.
"They were in a bin liner which was tied up so tight air could barely get in.
"If she had not been found by the dog walker she would have suffered a slow and lingering death and she would have been absolutely terrified.
"At least she had some comfort and affection towards the end - although the outcome is very sad."
The puppies were found by a dog walker on the morning of Friday, February 18, near the crematorium off Bolton Road.
They had been abandoned in a cat basket which had been put into a tied up black bag and left at the side of a bin on a footpath.
The dog walker rushed the puppy to a nearby vet, before the incident was reported to the RSPCA.
She was cared for RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital before she died of parvovirus.
Steve said that tests have revealed the pup’s sibling had also died from the disease - which can easily be prevented through vaccinations.
He wants to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area before the puppies were found on Friday morning.
He is also urging anyone who knows someone who recently had a litter of puppies to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 123 8018.
