How could they? Seven neglected Labrador puppies are ‘dumped like rubbish’ at roadside covered in mange and ‘too frightened to move’ before council rescues them
- Seven golden Labrador puppies were found abandoned inside a crate in Kent
- They were ‘skinny, smelly, mange-ridden and were too terrified to leave crate’
- Vets think it’s possible the malnourished pups may never have been outside it
Seven golden Labrador puppies were found starving and abandoned in a crate by a roadside in Kent, with unclipped claws and covered in mange.
Vets think it is possible the ten-week-old pups may have spent all of their short lives inside the crate due to their terrible health and fear of venturing outside.
The litter of six males and one female were described as ‘skinny, smelly, mange-ridden’ and ‘too terrified to even leave the crate’ by Swale Borough Council’s Stray Dog Service.
A staff member at the service said: ‘Puppies should be tiny whirlwinds full of confidence and energy, but these guys are so nervous.
‘Even with the crate door open, all of them were too frightened to move.
‘Their little claws are so sharp and long, we wonder if they’ve ever left the crate at all. This is animal cruelty and outright neglect.’
The seven abandoned labrador puppies were described as ‘skinny, smelly, mange-ridden and were too terrified to even leave the crate’ by Swale Borough Council’s Stray Dog Service
‘This is the crate the pups were found in, it’s so small they were just standing on top of each other. We’re so glad they’re out of there,’ the council’s stray dog service posted on Facebook
Users online have speculated whether the pups have been abandoned by a breeder following a drop in puppy sales after lockdown.
Staff said the litter also have woodchips in their stool – which suggests poor environment and diet.
They added: ‘These pups didn’t ask to be born and they certainly didn’t deserve to be dumped like rubbish.
‘Sadly with the current pet crisis, we feel this is just the tip of the iceberg.’
A couple who found the pups took them in for the night before contacting the council the next day. They are now with Karebear kennels in Boxley, Kent, until they are rehomed.
Readers on Facebook reacted with fury at how they had been abandoned.
Curly Sue O’Flanaghan posted: ‘Whoever dumped these gorgeous pups are Absolutely vile! These poor babies have done nothing wrong and yet treated like this.’
ThirteenthWolf wrote: ‘Clearly puppy farmed pups. Something really needs to be done about these greeders. Have you thought to check selling sites? Maybe they couldn’t sell them so dumped the poor little mites.’
It is thought they could be aged between 10 and 12 weeks and none are microchipped
Barbara Lee added: ‘Unfortunately another litter of puppies that have been bred but no homes found… During lockdown, everyone wanted puppies, now they’re back at work.’
The precise location of their discovery has not been revealed and Swale Borough Council is appealing for any information on the owner.
The RSPCA states it receives more than 100 reports of abandoned animals every day, with a 24 per cent increase in abandonments this year – as the cost of living crisis puts a strain on people’s finances.
The RSPCA states it is ‘incredibly concerned’ about the number of cast-off pets its rescue teams are being called out to and fears the cost of living could be leading owners to make difficult decisions.
The charity’s recent report – the Animal Kindness Index – found 68 per cent of respondents were afraid the cost of caring for pets was increasing, while 19 per cent were worried about how they would afford to feed animals.
Advertisement