Two of the five newborn puppies found dumped in a bin at Carrick are “going really well”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Launceston Animal Medical Centre veterinary nurse Nadia Butler nursed the puppies to health on Monday.
“They are quite active and are improving as the day goes on,” she said.
Miss Butler took on the responsibility of caring for the puppies until they’re old enough and healthy enough for adoption.
The puppies require feeding every three hours, constant heating, cleaning and toileting – all tasks their mother would’ve done for them.
“I think they will grow up thinking I’m their mum and my dog is their mum,” she said.
The puppies’ mum is believed to be a staffordshire or mastiff, and there is concern she may develop mastitis.
Female dogs with mastitis require antibiotic treatment, warm water compresses and her mammary glands emptied.
“It can make them very unwell due to infection,” Miss Butler said.
RSPCA inspector Oliver Breeze said someone in the area obviously has a female dog that has given birth recently.
“We’d like the owner of that animal to come forward so we can reunite the dog with her pups, which would enable a greater chance of survival,” Mr Breeze said.
Depending on how the puppies’ health progresses, they would be re-homed at about 12 weeks old.
“I’ve had quite a few people message me on Facebook so I don’t think there will be any trouble re-homing them,” Miss Butler said.
The other three puppies were found dead.
Anyone unable to care for an animal should contact the RSPCA or any vet clinic.
“They have a duty of care to ensure the animal isn’t suffering,” Mr Breeze said.
Under section nine of the Animal Welfare Act, a person found guilty of aggravated cruelty can be fined up to $31,600 and imprisoned for up to 60 months.
Anyone with information should contact the Animal Cruelty Hotline on 1300 139 947.