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‘Leftover Christmas present puppies’ dumped at Battersea on New Year’s Eve

On New Year’s Eve five puppies were heartlessly dumped outside Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s centre at Old Windsor, Berkshire, and staff fear they may have been bred as Christmas presents but failed to sell. With no food or water and filthy coats, the 12 week old English Bull Terrier cross puppies were trapped inside a small box and were very scared and cold.

Centre Manager Kaye Mughal explains: “We found the puppies in a small plastic box by our gate, so they were clearly dumped deliberately. Given the timing we’re worried they were bred as Christmas presents by someone looking to make a quick buck, but when they failed to sell they were disposed of. Dumping animals without food or water near a busy main road could have disastrous consequences, but thankfully we found these pups quickly, and they’re now recovering from their ordeal.”

Discovered just hours before the dawn of 2013, Battersea staff decided to name them Midnight, Big Ben, Chimes, Bubbles and Fizz, and wasted no time getting them into the warmth, giving them food, drink and a much-needed wash. Having been trapped in the box, the puppies were very dirty, smelly, and desperate to escape.

The festive period always has an impact on Battersea, and between 24 December and 1 January the charity’s three centres received 96 dogs and 52 cats. They included 11 cats and 36 dogs at Battersea Old Windsor, half of which were strays.

Kaye Mughal explains: “Many of these strays are genuinely lost, but others are cruelly dumped over Christmas. We pick up the pieces when people buy pets as presents. By March the tiny puppies and kittens given as Christmas presents are becoming more of a handful, they’ve lost their initial charm and are then given up. When it comes to gifts, please stick to toys or chocolates but not animals, as these puppies’ heart-breaking story can testify.”

Like all strays, the five puppies will need to stay at Battersea Old Windsor for at least seven days before they can be rehomed, and Kaye continues: “They’re all lively, fun-loving pups who will make fantastic additions to good homes. Fizz is a confident girl who loves a fuss, and Big Ben is her bold brother. Chimes is the most sensitive, while Bubbles is the shy one, and follows his affectionate brother Midnight everywhere. They may not have had the best start in life, but Battersea will make sure 2013 sees a change in their fortunes.”

If you are interested in rehoming one of the five puppies, or any other dog or cat from Battersea Old Windsor, please contact 01784 494443 or bow.rehomers@battersea.org.uk. To contact the other centres visit http://www.battersea.org.uk/about_us/our_centres

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