Charity shocked over puppy auction
Image: Lottie, Dogs Trust
The Dogs Trust is said to be shocked after a collie cross puppy was brought into its Darlington centre, having been sold at a livestock auction for just £1.88.
Local dog lover Hazel Richards came across the six-week-old puppy, along with three siblings, at a livestock auction in Somerset.
She said: “I was working in the area and saw the signs for the auction and thought I would see if I could pick up a chest of drawers.
"I soon discovered it was a livestock auction but was horrified when the last lot was unveiled as a cardboard box containing four filthy, severely malnourished, six- week old puppies. I couldn’t just leave them so immediately bid on them and bought the box for a meagre £7.50".
The box had been sold as a litter of three, but Hazel soon discovered a fourth puppy tucked at the bottom of the box with a deformed jaw. After taking the litter to the vet, sadly one passed away, though Hazel was able to re-home two pups, and another was taken in by the Dogs Trust.
Staff at the Darlington re-homing centre affectionately named the puppy Lottie. After nursing her back to health, they have managed to successfully re-home her.
Centre manager Sue Embleton, said: "We were shocked to hear of the circumstances in which Hazel acquired Lottie, it sounds like something which would occur centuries ago. It just highlights how flippantly [puppies are sold] in such circumstances and through pet shops and websites."
Livestock keepers are being urged to stay vigilant for Bluetongue (BTV-3) following confirmation of the disease in a ewe. The case, confirmed in Staffordshire on 23 June 2026, represents the first confirmed case of infection this summer.
