Twelve live dogs and two cats were found stuffed in fertiliser sacks on the back of a parked pickup truck in Muang district of Samut Prakan in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police and rescuers were called to the entrance of Klang Muang housing estate in tambon Dan Samrong at about 1am.

There they found 10 sacks left in the back of a pickup parked near a wastewater treatment pond, said Pol Lt Col Uthit Sudjai, investigation chief at Samrong Nua police station.

The sacks had been tied tightly, with the cries of dogs and cats coming intermittently from within. When they were opened rescuers found 12 poodles and two cats inside. The animals were exhausted and weak. 

Onlookers quickly brought water, milk and food.

Pathipan Thaiyakorn, 22, who found the animals, said he went to see a friend at the housing estate and parked his car near the truck at around 5pm on Tuesday. He heard animal noises at the time but assumed they were coming from behind the wastewater facility. He paid no attention and went to visit his friend.

When he returned to his vehicle late on Tuesday night he again heard the cries of dogs and cats in distress and started searching to see where they were coming from.

When he discovered that the cries were emanating from the closed sacks on the back of the parked pickup, he immediately called police.

Rescuers took the 14 distressed animals to a temporary shelter in Samut Prakan. A foundation in Chon Buri reportedly plans to take them under its care.

Police said the pickup might have nothing to do with the animals. According to local residents it had been parked there for a long time. Someone might have dumped the sacks with the animals onto the parked vehicle and left.   

Investigators were viewing recordings from security cameras to find out when the animals were dumped, and by whom. Whoever was responsible would face legal action under the Prevention of Cruelty and Animal Welfare Act.