The RSPCA is appealing for information to find those responsible for abandoning tiny puppies in a box in a field in Tyne & Wear.
The animal welfare charity has launched an investigation after the German Shepherd crosses – thought to be only one to two-weeks old – were found by a dog walker dumped in a box on Tuesday 5 June.
The man who discovered the puppies in a field near Northern Way, Southwick in Sunderland took them to the RSPCA Sunderland, Hartlepool & South Tyneside branch nearby.
Staff at the centre have named the pups – three girls ad two boys – Belle, Casey, Diefer, Kiefer and Mason. The branch manager took them home overnight in order to provide the round-the-clock care they need.
RSPCA Inspector Helen Nedley, who was alerted to the discovery, said: “The puppies are tiny, possibly only a week old, and still have their eyes closed. They’re far too young to be away from their mum and to abandon them in a field is completely unacceptable. They wouldn’t have survived for long on their own.
“Luckily the puppies are all healthy, but it could have easily been a tragic outcome if they hadn’t have been discovered by this passerby. Unfortunately abandoned animals is something the RSPCA sees all too often and, sadly a lot of the time we’re called to help young puppies or kittens who have been dumped.”
The puppies will now be cared for by staff at the RSPCA branch until they are old enough to be rehomed.
The charity are asking for anyone with any information on where the puppies came from of who is responsible for abandoning them to contact the appeal line on 0300 023 8018.
