New homes offered to puppies dumped in woodland

The eight puppies were "close to death" when they were taken in on Wednesday night, manager Cheryl Martin said

A rescue centre has had a number of offers to rehome a litter of puppies found abandoned in Nottinghamshire woodland.

Mansfield Wildlife Rescue took in the eight dehydrated puppies after they were found in Mansfield Woodhouse on Wednesday.

Manager Cheryl Martin is now awaiting a DNA test to find out if the puppies are a type of XL bully.

The future of the puppies rests on the results of the test, which is expected to take up to 10 days.

The puppies are now doing "really well", said Ms Martin

Ms Martin said: "I think we have probably had more offers of rehomes than puppies!

"We've had calls, messages, supporters, and a couple of our volunteers said they would rehome them.

"I've worked at the centre for nearly 30 years - raising animals is in my blood; it's tiring, but we give our all to the animals."

The discovery of the puppies was reported to the dog warden at the district council, which said, "at this stage, it was impossible to identify what breed they are".

A spokesperson added: "As soon as they are identifiable, they will either be rehomed via the charity, or contact will be made with the dog warden."

It became a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without an exemption certificate on 1 February.