Frightened, hungry and crawling with fleas, two tiny puppies have been found abandoned at the top of Llanwonno mountain in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The pair of Patterdale Terriers, not thought to be more than a few months old, would surely have died had they not been spotted by a passing hiker.
Christened Bertie and Greta, they are now in the care of Hope Rescue in Llanharan. Staff there say the pups are the "latest victims of a growing ‘fake stray’ epidemic" which has seen owners deliberately dump their pets rather than reaching out to a shelter for help.
"We were very concerned about how the poor little souls had ended up in such a precarious place," said a centre spokesperson. "The terrain of the mountain means it would have been impossible for them to walk there, so we can only assume they were deliberately abandoned.
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"We have no idea how long they had been left there but when they arrived they were understandably very frightened, dirty and crawling with fleas. Their little tummies were also swollen with worms."
After being treated Bertie and Greta were quickly moved to a foster home "where they could be given the care and attention they so desperately needed." The spokesperson added, "We're currently facing a welfare crisis, but as always, our team will pull out all the stops and continue to ensure our dogs receive the very best care whatever the cost."
Hope Rescue has since launched an appeal for donations from the public to help them with their work. To find out how to give, click here.
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