Two dogs that were found in a 17-metre pit used to deposit carcasses of other animals are recovering in a private vet clinic, police said on Wednesday.

The dogs were retrieved from the pit on Monday afternoon after police received a tip-off and set up a large-scale operation in collaboration with the fire service, a Larnaca police spokesman told the Cyprus Mail.

They appear to be stray dogs and they did not have a microchip.

The officer confirmed that the owner of the specific farm had complained to the police a day prior the incident that stray dogs have been harassing his animals.

But when asked by the police, the farm owner refused any involvement. He was not taken to the police station for questioning.

Asked whether the pit was covered, police refused to comment.

Once the dogs fully recover, they will be delivered to the local authority to be hosted in the shelter for stray animals.