An urgent plea has been issued by a rescue centre after eight ‘beautiful’ puppies were dumped in a cardboard box and “left to die”.
The Responsible Dog Rescue, based in Southport, stepped in to save the young dogs who were heartlessly abandoned in sub-zero temperatures last month. The puppies, which were brought to Southport from Romania, where one of the shelter’s rescuers had been volunteering in the country, were found outside a public shelter at two months old.
Alex Bailey, kennel manager, told how the “beautiful little family” wouldn’t have survived if they were left there any longer. She said: “Toby, Hugo, Mocha, Seren, Eclipse, Holly, Rosie and Eden were very cruelly dumped in a cardboard box, after being abandoned at two months old and then left to die.
“It got colder and colder, and darker and darker. No heating and they were left in the snow, if they were left any longer they would not have survived.
“Thankfully they were spotted by our rescuer, who got them to safety. But if they were dumped one day later they would have been missed and likely would have died due to the weather.
“We can’t even bare thinking of that outcome. We took them to our Southport Kennels to save their lives and give them a chance.”
The Responsible Dog Rescue was founded by Rachael O’Regan and her husband in 2022, and has since offered a lifeline for mistreated animals. Since launching, Rachael has helped rehome 1,600 dogs across the world – particularly dogs rescued from Romania.
Eight puppies were found abandoned in deep snow
She previously told the ECHO: “I always get asked ‘why rescue from Romania when there’s so many dogs needing homes in the UK already?’ My response is quite simple, we as a rescue save these dogs’ lives, they come from absolutely horrendous conditions, where they have been traumatised, abused, severely injured and left for dead, that is a rescue.”
Unfortunately, the cost of rescuing dogs from Romania is taking a massive hit on the centre’s funding and they are “struggling” as a rescue. Alex said: “We really need help. We need volunteers to help turn all their [the rescues pups] lives around.
“They are already so much happier with us at the kennels, our wonderful kennel staff and volunteers are doing everything they can to help these beautiful souls get the second chance they so rightly deserve. But we are desperate for items to help these puppies, to get them ready for their forever homes.
“We are desperately in need of puppy food, we are about to run out, we also need beds for the puppies, poo bags, supplements and bleach.”
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