These seven week-old puppies were abandoned and left to die – after being put out with the RUBBISH.
The adorable newborns were dumped in a cardboard box next to the bins on collection day.
They were close to death when a passerby heard their yelps and went to investigate.
Local charity Animals in Distress are now caring for the stricken seven who are completely dependent and unable to feed themselves.
Staff at the charity have since been working around the clock to keep them alive, feeding them every two hours.
They are believed to be just a week old and are unidentifiable because they are so young.
The charity said that the heavy rain that fell half an hour after they were found outside a house in Torquay, Devon last Tuesday would have killed them.
The charity, based in the nearby village of Ipplepen, is appealing for information as they are concerned for the welfare of the pup’s mother.
In a post on Facebook, they wrote: “It’s been all hands on deck at the rescue centre for the last few days, as a litter of seven puppies, just a week old, were handed to us last week.
“The pups had been found dumped in a cardboard box outside a Torquay house by the rubbish bins – on bin day.
“Thankfully, a passing man heard the pups before the bin men arrived – and half an hour before a big rain storm which would have killed them – and took them to the nearest vets.
“The puppies need to be fed every two hours at this stage, throughout the day and night, so staff have been working round the clock to keep them alive.
“The puppies all seem to be doing well so far, but it can be touch and go at their age because they were taken from their mother so young.
“Everyone is working so hard to care for them, and we hope that they will all pull through.
“As it’s still very early days for this litter we are not taking any applications for rehoming for the puppies yet.
“If anyone knows anything at all about this litter, please do come forward and let us know, as we are concerned for the welfare of the puppies’ mother.
“We will keep you updated on the pups’ progress. If you would like to help, we are soon going to run out of puppy milk and cotton wool, and desperately need more supplies of these.
“Thank you so much for your support.”
On Tuesday another grim discovery was made when five newborn kittens were found inside a cardboard box in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The helpless litter was discovered by a passerby who spotted them in a black bin liner that had been placed inside a box at the hospital on Sunday.
RSPCA animal welfare officer Alison Sparkes said: “The kittens are very lucky to have been found – at this age there is no way they would have survived on their own.
“They are way too young to be without their mum, and are having to be hand-reared by volunteers.”
