Lurcher puppies abandoned at Ballymena Dogs Trust

The seven-week old pups were found running around Teeshan Road after having broken free from the cat carriers in which they had been dumped.

All nine puppies are in good health, despite their poor start to life; and are undergoing their veterinary assessments at the centre before being eligible for rehoming within the next week. With never-ending long legs the litter has been named after equally tall things. So Snowdon, Ben (Nevis), Everest, Gherkin, Redwood, Empire, Chrysler, Fuji and Kilimanjaro are hoping that their luck will change.

Says Oonagh Phillips, Dogs Trust Ballymena Assistant Manager:

“I was working in the centre and saw little blobs of white at the bottom of the hill and could also hear faint noises too – not surprising when you work in a rehoming centre you might think. “But when I stepped outside, the noise was getting louder and armed with my torch I was surprised to see the pups. Having been abandoned in a small cat carrier the active and leggy pups had easily escaped their confines and were running across the road, which luckily due to the time of night was relatively quiet. It is horrible to think that someone could abandon any dog especially ones as young as these, but we’re hopeful that they won’t have any troubles finding new homes.”

Abandoned just days before was Agatha, an elderly Jack Russell, who was found tied to a gate just yards from the rehoming centre. After being alerted to her by a member of the public the staff took her in and are continuing to care for her. Staff believe she is a ‘graceful but grey’ 16 and are hoping that she can find a new retirement home soon.

If you can offer any of the pups or Agatha a fresh start then please either call the centre staff on 028 2565 2977 or visit them at 60 Teeshan Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT43 5PN.

Dogs Trust cares for over 16,000 abandoned and unwanted dogs a year through its network of 18 rehoming centres in the UK and one in Dublin.