CORNWALL Council’s Dog Welfare and Enforcement Team was recently called to collect three abandoned terrier puppies that were found dumped in a cardboard box at the side of a busy road near Camelford.

Collected on October 27, the puppies were in poor condition and suffering with a skin condition, currently believed to be mange. The dogs are being cared for and undergoing veterinary treatment.

Lynn Carter, community protection team manager, said: “Not only is it a despicable and inhumane act abandoning small puppies in that condition, it is an offence to mistreat or abandon dogs.

“We would welcome any information that might lead us to identifying the owner of the dogs, or that would identify who might have abandoned them. These dogs will continue to be given veterinary treatment and cared for by a local rehoming charity until they are fit and healthy enough to be rehomed.

“The council works closely with the RSPCA and will not hesitate to take action against anyone found to be mistreating a dog. I would ask that anyone with information about these puppies email us at [email protected].”

Cornwall Council’s Dog Welfare and Enforcement Team deals with approximately 1,100 stray dogs every year and manages to return over 90% to their owners, compared to the national average of 54%.

Virtually all of the others are rehomed, with only a handful being unable to be rehomed, in cases where the dogs are suffering with very severe medical conditions and put to sleep under veterinary advice, or where a dog is too aggressive to be rehomed.