AN officer with animal welfare charity USPCA has spoken of her dismay after five pups were abandoned at the side of a south Armagh road.
The six-week old German Shepherd pups were discovered by a member of the public earlier this week in a cardboard box "trembling in fear and left to fend for themselves".
The pups are now in the care of the USPCA, though one is in a critical condition.
Their rescue came as the charity revealed that it has taken a higher level of calls from members of the public wanting to give up their pet this Christmas.
USPCA development manager Colleen Tinnelly said she was "dismayed" at the pups' discovery.
"Despite numerous pleas to the public regarding responsible pet ownership, we are still seeing defenceless young animals being abandoned by a busy and dangerous roadside, only days after Christmas," she said.
"We don’t know how long they were left outside exposed to the wet and windy weather conditions, but we are very grateful to the member of the public for rescuing them from a dire situation. We really hope all puppies will be able to make a full recovery, but it is still very early to say."
Ms Tinnelly appealed for people to "think long and hard about their pets" and urged pet owners to get their animals neutered.
She said animal shelters across the north were at full capacity and that the charity expected a surge in unwanted animals over the coming weeks.
"Never have we seen cases like this so quick on the back of Christmas – we’re shocked and very disappointed that it continues to happen," she said.
