Nine abandoned staffy puppies taken in by Heswall animal shelter – Birkenhead News

A Heswall animal shelter is appealing for donations after taking in nine abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier puppies.

The dogs were surrendered to Celandine Wood Animal Rescue this weekend and appear to be only five weeks old.

The five girls and four boys are named Brie, Stilton, Babybel, Leicester, Camembert, Wensleydale, Cheddar, Halloumi and Feta. The puppies are now with foster parents and are looking for their forever homes. Little is known about the background of the puppies.

Veterinarian Sharon Williams, who founded Celandine, said the number of abandoned animals was still increasing. “They were dumped at another local rescue organization that had no room for them and we said we would step in and pick them up,” she said. “We’re running low on funds, but we couldn’t say no to these babies.”

Eight weeks is the minimum age puppies should be when they leave their mother, she explained. Otherwise, they may develop behavioral problems.

“The puppies are small and skinny and look like they were taken from their mother too early,” she said. “Pups separated too early can develop behavioral problems as adults, such as anxiety, attachment problems and reactivity to other dogs. However, when young puppies are hand-reared by a human, they can be well balanced as long as they are nurturing.”

Ms Williams, branch partner at Medivet in Heswall, urged people to donate towards the care of the dogs.

“Times are tough and the rescue efforts are really feeling the pinch,” she said. “Our running costs are high – one dog can cost us thousands of pounds in veterinary care and wipe out our savings.
“I know money is tight for many people right now, but anything you can afford to donate would be greatly appreciated.”

For years, Ms. Williams took home animals that their owners had offered for euthanasia without good reason. Celandine began dealing with the increased demand for rescue spaces last year. It now has kennels that can accommodate up to 40 dogs and a network of foster carers.

Ms Williams said the number of animals abandoned in Britain is at its highest in three years and Merseyside is particularly struggling.

“Rescues across the country are being overwhelmed by the amount of abandoned animals,” she said. “We receive about ten calls a day about animals in desperate situations that we have to turn away.

“We are still seeing the impact of the pandemic, when people bought more than three million dogs, went to the office and discovered they had no time for their pet or their dog was exhibiting anti-social behaviour. And now on top of that we have the cost of living crisis.

“There are simply more animals that need to be rescued than there are rescue spaces. Celandine is run entirely by volunteers and it breaks our hearts to say no to these animals, knowing they might fall through the cracks. An estimated 20,000 dogs are put to sleep in the UK every year.

“We want to be able to say yes to more animals.”

Anyone who wants to donate to Celandine can do so here

For more information about the rescue and to see what animals are available for adoption, visit www.celandinewoodanimalrescue.org.uk

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