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Abandoned New Year's Eve puppies in need of homes
Image: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Five puppies were abandoned at Battersea just hours before the dawn of 2013

The 12-week-old English Bull Terrier Cross pups were found in a small plastic box dumped outside Battersea's Old Windsor Centre. The five puppies were dirty and distressed, left with no food or water. Staff at Battersea quickly brought them into the warm and gave them food, water and a wash. They will need to stay at the centre for at least 7 days before they can be re-homed.

Centre Manager Kate Mughal says: “Given the timing we're worried they were bred as Christmas presents by someone looking to make a quick buck, but when they failed to sell they were disposed of. 


"Dumping animals without food or water near a busy main road could have disastrous consequences, but thankfully we found these pups quickly, and they’re now recovering from their ordeal."

For homes and rescue centres like Battersea, the festive season brings with it increased pressure on resources. Between Christmas day and New Year's Day, Battersea's three centres received 96 dogs and 52 cats. Of the 11 cats and 36 dogs that came to the Old Windsor centre alone, around half were strays.

The puppies have been festively named Midnight, Big Ben, Chimes, Bubbles and Fizz. The charity will be seeking caring new homes for them this year.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.