Mansfield Woodhouse: Litter of puppies found dumped in woodland

Cheryl Martin said the puppies had now been fed and were in better condition

A litter of puppies thought to be just a few days old have been found dumped in woodland in Nottinghamshire.

The eight puppies were "close to death" when Mansfield Wildlife Rescue took them in on Wednesday night, manager Cheryl Martin said.

She said they were discovered by a member of the public "with their umbilical cords still attached".

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

"Looking at them, we're pretty confident that they're not but we still don't know - there's always that little bit of doubt," Ms Martin said.

The DNA test is expected to take seven to 10 days.

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

The Mansfield Wildlife Rescue is concerned for the puppies' mother

Mansfield Wildlife Rescue does not usually look after dogs but "because it was an emergency" Ms Martin decided to take them in.

"When they came and I saw just how dehydrated they were and how close to death they were, we didn't think they were going to survive the night," she said.

The litter has since been fed and Ms Martin said they were doing "brilliantly".

She added, however, that the new mother could be at risk of infection if she is producing milk and fears she might not be seen to and urged the owner to come forward, "even if anonymously".

The RSPCA said it had seen "some cases of abandoned XL bullies" but said healthy stray dogs were the responsibility of local councils.

A spokesperson added: "We and other charities have seen heart-breaking cases of dogs being given up or abandoned across the rescue sector and we fear this problem is going to get worse.

"This already comes at a time when abandonment calls about all animals to the RSPCA were recently at a three-year high."

A Mansfield District Council spokesperson said: "During this time, they remain with Mansfield Wildlife Rescue.

"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.