A box of severely undernourished puppies, discovered abandoned in a skip, are now on the road to recovery, reports an animal sanctuary. The Forest of Dean Dog Rescue in Gloucestershire took in the frail pups, who have been regaining their strength over the past two weeks.
Sanctuary staff were initially unable to determine the puppies’ breed due to their extreme dehydration and malnutrition, with each weighing just 1kg (2.2lbs). After receiving intensive care at a local veterinary clinic, the puppies are now steadily improving and are expected to be ready for adoption in the coming weeks.
Jen Cole, the secretary of Forest of Dean Dog Rescue, shared that the puppies are “making remarkable progress.” However, she cautioned, “They’re not out of danger yet; there’s still a long journey ahead.”
Ms. Cole also highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by rescue centers, noting, “Rescues are overwhelmed, and situations like this occur daily.” She urged prospective pet owners to carefully consider their ability to provide the necessary time and financial commitment before adopting an animal.
Two weeks ago, the animal shelter received an urgent call from a man who, upon arriving at work, discovered a box of abandoned puppies in a skip. The puppies were immediately taken to Drybridge Veterinary Clinic in Coleford for critical treatment.
“The veterinary team worked tirelessly on them that day,” recounted Ms. Cole. Two of the puppies were in such dire condition that they needed to be placed on drips, barely clinging to life. “They were in a truly shocking state, and I believe if we had found them just a few hours later, we would have lost at least two of them.”
By Wednesday, the puppies had recovered enough to receive their vaccinations and microchips. A DNA test will soon be conducted to determine their breed.
Despite their progress, Ms. Cole emphasized that the puppies still required significant care and would be placed in foster homes to help nurture their development. The rescue center will begin the search for permanent homes in the coming weeks but has requested that the public refrain from inquiring about adopting the puppies at this time.