Puppies dumped in Dollar bin and left to die

Sep 9 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Wednesday

THREE newly-born puppies that were dumped in a rubbish-bin by the side of a busy road have died.

Two of the tiny rottweiler-cross pups died soon after being found in the bin by the A91 at Dollar last Friday but there were hopes that a third – named Sweep by carers – could be saved.

The puppy was taken to the Scottish SPCA’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Lanarkshire where staff desperately tried to save him but the frail pup died on Sunday evening.

All three dogs had been tied in a plastic supermarket bag and tossed into the bin at a lay-by.

They were only discovered by chance when trucker David Walker, from Tillicoultry, pulled in nearby and heard the terrified pups squealing.

He said: “I went into the field next to the lay-by to see where it was coming from but I couldn’t work it out.

“I had some bottles in the cab that I needed to put in the bin so I went over and realised that was where the sound was coming from. It must have been magnified by the tin of the bin.

“I looked inside. The bin was empty apart from a plastic Alloa Co-operative bag at the bottom and I realised the bag was moving.

“I opened it up and saw there were three puppies squirming inside. They couldn’t have been born long, because they still had their umbilical cords on and they were slimy.”

Mr Walker (59) wiped the pups with a rag from his cab and took them home to his wife. She and a neighbour kept them warm with hot water bottles while a local vet was called.

The vet gave Mr and Mrs Walker puppy milk and a syringe to keep the puppies alive until an animal ambulance from the Scottish SPCA arrived.

Mr Walker said: “It must have been fate that led me to stop in that layby because I never normally stop there.

“I can’t believe anyone could be so cruel.”

The animal charity’s Chief Superintendent Flynn said: “This was a horrendously cruel act by someone who clearly intended for these puppies to die. Whoever did this literally believes it is okay to just throw animals away like rubbish.

“Whoever did this also had no concern for the welfare of the mother, as taking her pups away from her at such a young age will have caused her great distress.

“These puppies only died because of the actions of one very callous and irresponsible person and we are very keen to track this individual down.

“If caught the perpetrator could face two separate charges of animal cruelty. Abandonment carries a charge of up to six months in prison a £5000 fine or both and causing an animal unnecessary suffering can result in up to 12 months in prison, a £2000 fine or both.

“Most importantly for us, whoever did this can expect to be banned from keeping animals, which is the ultimate sanction against animal cruelty.

“We are urging anyone with any information relating to the abandoned pups to call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 straight away.”