A helpless puppy that was discovered abandoned in a box and hidden under some bushes could not be saved by vets.
The black and tan coloured puppy – thought to be just six weeks old – was sniffed out by another dog in a green space in Feltham, West London on Saturday.
The dog’s owner went over to see what their pet had found and was shocked to discover a tiny puppy, wrapped in a blanket in a clear plastic box.
The puppy was rushed to the nearest vet where the RSPCA was called to investigate.
When vets examined the puppy they found he was very underweight, and too weak to walk or eat.
RSPCA inspector Nicole Broster said: ‘This is such a tragic incident and it broke my heart that such a tiny puppy was left to suffer so much, and knowing he had been abandoned all alone when he was in such desperate need of help.
‘The walker described him as “freezing cold” when he found him, and when he was examined by vets it was clear he was skinny, suffering from conjunctivitis so severe that he wasn’t able to open his eyes.
‘He was also so weak and subdued he was unable to eat or take more than a few steps.’
The puppy was transferred to RSPCA Finsbury Park Hospital earlier this week where vets worked tirelessly to try to save him, but sadly he didn’t respond to treatment.
His condition did not improve and despite all efforts to save him, vets made the difficult decision to put him to sleep to end his suffering.
Now, the RSPCA is keen to discover who abandoned the puppy and is appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.
Nicole said: ‘Abandoning any animal is cruel and completely unnecessary, we don’t know how long the puppy had been left out inside the box in the cold in bushes, and vulnerable to all sorts of danger.
‘It’s possible someone dumped him because he’s so poorly, and he could be a by-product of the cruel puppy trade.
‘It’s beyond belief that someone left him in those bushes and walked away.’
Thanking the walker who handed the puppy to vets, Nicole added: ‘Because of their actions, he was treated with love and dignity in his last few days and was given every chance of pulling through.
‘It’s always incredibly upsetting for us when an animal doesn’t make it.’
Anyone with any information about the puppy is asked to contact Nicole by leaving a message for her on the special inspector’s appeal line 0300 123 8018.
All messages are left in confidence.
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