The SPCA is looking to find seven young puppies which were dumped in a box outside shops in Auckland's Ōtara, then taken away by school children.
Yesterday afternoon, the SPCA received reports that a litter of puppies had been dumped in a polystyrene foam box outside the Chinese takeaway and Othello Superette shops on Othello Drive in Ōtara.
"We’re not sure when these puppies were dumped or how long they’d been in the box for," says SPCA area manager Margaret Rawiri.
"Unfortunately, before our SPCA Inspector could reach the puppies, a number of college-aged children, who were around the shops at the time we were called, took the puppies away."
Due to their young age, the SPCA is concerned the puppies might die without proper care.
The rescue organisation said nine puppies were dumped, but that SPCA staff had managed to get back two of the two-week-old puppies today.
They were checked by a vet and found to be underweight, dehydrated and cold, with one suffering from nasal discharge.
"While we understand they may have been taken away to keep them safe, we would like to make sure they are OK due to their age and how vulnerable they are," Rawiri says.
Abandoning animals is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act. The SPCA says the puppies were left in the cold without any provisions, before being taken by the children.
Anyone with information about where the puppies came from, or where they are now, is asked to contact the SPCA confidentially on 09 256 7300.
SHARE ME