Staff at Dogs Trust Leeds are caring for a puppy that was dumped in a cardboard box in a field in Castleford.
The five-week old Terrier Cross puppy was found close to death after being dumped in a field and was found by a member of the public.
The tiny pup weighs less than one kilogram and was nicknamed Hockney after famous Yorkshireman David Hockney who himself was rescued last week after getting stuck in a life in Amsterdam.
When the abandoned pup was found in the field in the town of Castleford, West Yorkshire, he had no protection from the elements or food or water.
Emma Cooper, Assistant Manager at Dogs Trust Leeds who is helping care for Hockney, said: “Puppies of this age shouldn’t be away from their mum, let alone left to fend for themselves in a field. He was immediately seen by a vet after being rescued who said he wouldn’t have survived much longer as he was so cold.
“He hadn’t even been left with a blanket. He had worms and has mange, a skin disease, which he is being treated for. At first, he didn’t want to eat anything, but his appetite is definitely improving, and he is becoming more like the inquisitive puppy he should be at his age. We will be looking after him for a few weeks until he has fully recovered and then we will be looking for a wonderful forever home for him, where he will continue to get all the love he deserves and needs to grow into a happy, healthy adult dog.
“We would like to remind everyone that if they are ever in a situation where abandonment is their only option, we and other charities can help.”
Staff at Dogs Trust Leeds advise that at the moment Hockney is too young to be adopted but one their veterinary team feel he is ready, they hope he will be available in the next two to three weeks.
A Dogs Trust spokesperson said: “We are very concerned about the number of puppies and dogs that are abandoned because people feel there is no other option. We want to remind people that charities like ours are there to support anyone who is worried that they cannot care for their dog.
“Thankfully Hockney was found just in time and is being looked after at one of our rehoming centres. Our slogan ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ turned 40 years old last year, but we still find ourselves having to remind people that they should always consider the long-term commitment of a dog before bringing one into their home and do lots of research to be sure that dog ownership is for them.”
To find out more you can visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming.
