Puppies abandoned under bush find new homes

Seven puppies found abandoned under a bush have found new homes after being nursed back to health.

The puppies, initially believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers, were later identified as shih tzus after being taken into the care of pet charity Blue Cross.

They were found by a member of the public in Abingdon at about a month old and taken to Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, before being transferred to Blue Cross's rehoming centre in Burford.

The puppies - named Bernie, Tilly, Hettie, Betsy, Harold, Sandy and Norman - still needed their mother's milk when found and needed intensive bottle-feeding from the charity's team.

Anouska Ashmead-Bartlett, admissions coordinator at Blue Cross Burford, said: "It's a good thing they were discovered when they were and brought into safety, as they are unlikely to have survived on their own."

The puppies needed treatment for eye conditions and nasal discharge, with some showing signs of aspiration and lethargy that raised concerns over possible pneumonia.

Ashmead-Bartlett said the charity did not know the circumstances behind the puppies being abandoned, but said they may have come from a litter a breeder was unable to sell.

She added that flat-faced breeds like shih tzus are predisposed to certain health conditions, including eye disorders and infections.

Now aged six weeks, all seven puppies have been rehomed following their treatment.

"We're delighted to see these pups get the happy ending they deserve in loving new homes," Ashmead-Bartlett said. "Without being found when they were, their story could have ended very differently."