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Two friends walking their dogs made the grisly discoveries and have said nothing is being done to clean them up.

The friends from Derrymacash first came across the carcasses of several animals in a stream close to Oxford Island last Friday.

Miss Connolly and her friend Miss Donnelly, who didn't want their first names used, were also alarmed to see a dead dog floating in Craigavon Lakes on Monday.

Miss Connolly explained: “We’d only went to the lane (Annaloiste Road) for a change of scenery and that’s when we saw the remains in the trench.”

Miss Donnelly added: “We had the dogs up here with us and if they’d got off the lead they’d have been in there all over the bits and pieces. God knows what’d they have got off them.”

The body parts in the stream, which appeared to belong to more than one animal, included a jawbone, two ribcages, an ear, skin, hooves and part of an intestine.

The ladies first thought the remains looked like a case of animal cruelty, however, the USPCA pointed out it was more likely to be farmers dumping animal carcasses instead of paying to have them rendered.

It has since emerged the animal carcasses found in the stream may have been deer.

It’s understood there has been a problem with the dumping of deer carcasses in the area and this was not the first case this year.

Miss Connolly continued: “After seeing that, we decided to go to Craigavon Lakes instead on Monday. That’s when we saw the wee dead dog.”

The dog appeared to be a terrier type dog and was wearing a collar.

After contacting the council about the remains at Annaloiste Road on Friday the local women were shocked to see the remains were still there on Tuesday.

“We called the council and were told someone would be in touch and I never heard anything back which I thought was a disgrace,” said Miss Connolly.

“Today is Tuesday and there nothing has been done about it. I contacted council again and they told us to contact the USPCA, but they said it’s only them if it’s animal cruelty.

“Council said they had no record of me reporting it the first time. They should have taken it seriously the first time I spoke to them.”

They said they also told staff at the Watersports Centre about the dog but were told it couldn’t be moved for two days.

Miss Connolly stated: “I was so angry at this because it's a public area and it really wouldn’t be a nice sight for a young child or any dog walker and really do think Craigavon Council is a joke.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “Craigavon Borough Council takes the issue of dead animals very seriously and investigates every report they receive.

“Council received a report of a dead calf on Friday afternoon. This was passed on to the relevant department who tried to contact the person who reported it to find out the exact location. However, contact could not be made.

“Officers spent time searching the area indicated, however nothing was found. When the exact location was identified the remains were found in a drain and for health and safety reasons could not be recovered.”

The spokesperson added: “In the case of the dead dog, staff at the Watersports Centre received information on Monday evening – again not specific. On Tuesday morning, officers searched the area and wider vicinity thoroughly but could not find any remains until the specific location was pinpointed. Officers have since removed the body.

“Council would ask that when reports are made that specific details and location are given to help aid the recovery of the carcasses.

“Council is responsible for lifting dead animals from council owned land, roads and pathways but not on private property.”

As well as contacting Craigavon Council’s Environmental Services department and the USPCA, the ‘MAIL’ has also alerted the Rivers Agency to the animal remains in the stream.