Puppies rescued after mum hides them in hole in tree

Five puppies were being protected by their mother in a hole in a tree

An abandoned dog and her five newborn puppies have been rescued after she was found hiding them in a hole in a tree.

The dog — a stray Shiba Inu — now named Fern, had been seen wandering around for two weeks near Peterborough before local residents finally managed to catch her.

She was seen poking her head out from the tree in the early hours of 20 November, sheltering her puppies behind her.

All six are now in the care of Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, and are said to be doing well.

New mother Fern was spotted poking her head out from the hole in the tree

The puppies were just two to three weeks old when they were found "in freezing cold temperatures", a Woodgreen spokeswoman said.

"It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened to this little family if they hadn't been rescued."

The puppies have been named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom

Fern hid in a corner of the vet's room when she first arrived at the rescue centre

The charity believed the mother had been abandoned while pregnant and local people had been trying to catch her after she was first spotted.

She was eventually found "hiding and protecting five tiny puppies in the hole".

"One of our community outreach officers drove to the finder's home to collect mum and puppies and bring them to Woodgreen to get the care they needed," the spokeswoman said.

"Fern was extremely nervous on arrival at Woodgreen, and spent the entirety of the veterinary checks hiding away in the corner of the vet room. She was also quite underweight.

"We will support Fern with nursing and weaning, before they're ready to find new homes."

The puppies have now been named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom.

In the lead-up to Christmas, the charity urged struggling pet owners to seek support by either contacting Woodgreen or another charity.