Shocking photos released after puppies found dumped in ditch

WARNING: This article contains graphic images which some readers may find distressing
Dumping ground: The bodies of the puppies were found dumped in a ditch in Hogg End Lane, St Albans
RSPCA
Laura Proto15 March 2016

Harrowing photographs have been released by the RSPCA after nine puppies were found dumped in a ditch by a country lane.

The tiny terriers and collies are believed to have been between six and eight weeks old when they were callously left in a ditch in St Albans.

The RSPCA found the young puppies strewn among the undergrowth and among rubbish after a call from a member of the public last month.

Kate Wight, RSPCA animal collection officer said she was horrified by what she saw when she went to retrieve the bodies.

She said: “They were all covered in sawdust and some looked skinny.

"The little pads on their paws were red raw like they’d been living in urine. They absolutely stank.

“I had a look around the area and, in the same ditch, I found decomposed corpses, bones and fur.

“I realised the horror that this ditch is obviously used on a regular basis – it was heart-breaking.”

WARNING: Graphic image below

Harrowing: In one of the images from the RSPCA, the tiny puppies were believed to be between six to eight weeks old
RSPCA

Ms Wight said she found the remains of at least three other dogs.

She added: “It was grim, really awful. It really upset me. It makes you wonder what kind of life they had before.”

The RSPCA made the decision to release the shocking photographs of the dead puppies to raise awareness of the reality of puppy farms.

The animal welfare charity is calling for the introduction of new legislation to better protect dogs and puppies being bred for sale.

The charity launched the Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign in England in October last year after it received an 88 per cent increased in the number of calls about the puppy trade in just three years.

The campaign aims to educate people on responsibly sourcing puppies and is calling on the government to introduce laws to combat puppy dealers.

Inspector Rachel Smith, RSPCA canine focus officer, said: “My advice for the consumer would be that if something doesn’t seem right, don’t buy the puppy. Walk away and contact us or the local authority immediately.

“These breeders and dealers don’t care about the welfare of these dogs, they only care about the money.”

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