Police rescued six puppies who were just moments away from death over the weekend.
In the early hours of Saturday morning (March 18) two officers were travelling along the A689 when they spotted a vehicle parked up on the side while the driver stood near the grass verge. As they turned around to check everything was okay, they noticed the driver swinging a sealed carrier bag on the edge of the bank.
The officers quickly switched on their blue lights and parked up behind the vehicle. The man proceeded to throw the carrier bag onto the front seat before beginning to 'inspect' his tyre.
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As the officers got out of the police car and approached the vehicle, they heard squealing coming from the passenger side and soon realised it was the same bag the man was swinging moments prior. Once the officers untied the bag, they discovered six Cocker Spaniel puppies.
After the man was questioned, the officers arranged for the litter to be transported to a local vet so they could retrieve treatment. Meanwhile, the 50-year-old was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, money laudnering, and trafficking in a controlled drug.
The man, who was taken into custody, has since been released on bail while police enquiries continue. According to Durham Constabulary, all six puppies are making a full recovery and will soon be fostered.
Officers also carried out a section 18 warrant of the man's address and rescued the puppies' parents - they have all since been reunited. One of the officers that discovered the puppies, PC Liam Vernon, said: “The puppies were riddled with fleas and if we’d have passed just seconds before, we would have been none the wiser.
“Both myself and Luke are huge dog lovers, so it has been one of those jobs which has really stuck with us, we’ve hardly stopped thinking about it but are just glad to have saved them – it really was right place, right time.”
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