Animal rescue workers were in action in Donegal yesterday after 11 newborn Collie pups were found abandoned in a turf bag.
The shocking case was discovered by a young woman in Carrigart on Monday evening.
Sadly, just four of the pups have survived and are now fighting for their lives in the care of a foster volunteer for Animals in Need Donegal.
The charity said the dumping of the pups in gorse bushes was “beyond despicable”.
“Imagine the horror and trauma of the young woman who came across the bag and had to sort through the bodies and try to save the living ones who were snuggled in among the 6 dead bodies of their siblings,” they said.
“It’s one thing for your dog not to be spayed and let her have pups but to cruelly rip the newborn pups away from her and dump them in an old turf bag with a big rock in a deserted place is beyond despicable.”
Volunteers have been working around the clock to care for the surviving pups of the litter.
They said that only five were still alive with three of them showing signs of their bodies shutting down. One passed away shortly after arriving at the centre.
The remaining pups. Photo: Animals in Need Donegal
Photo: Animals in Need Donegal
“All we can think about is the fear, the hunger, the cold and the dread they must have been feeling. But where is the mum? Imagine how she must be feeling. The hope that her owners will be responsible and get her spayed or even checked over by the vet is probably wasted but we hope they will do the right thing,” they said in an online appeal.
“If anyone knows of a collie or collie cross bitch in that area that looks like she has recently given birth please reach out to us, ISPCA or the gardai.
“The remaining 4 pups are being looked after by an experienced foster care and we are hoping against hope that they’ll pull through.”
Donations to support Animals in Need Donegal are being accepted via this page: Animals In Need Donegal