7 newborn puppies found in sack

A month after a dog was thrown off a terrace in Chennai, seven newborn puppies were found tightly crammed inside a gunnysack in Dahisar on Thursday night. Locals, suspecting foul play, immediately informed animal activists, and the abandoned puppies were rescued and taken to a veterinarian. While one puppy was found dead, the rest are recuperating from hypothermia, dehydration and diarrhoea.

The incident occurred around 10.30 pm when Rushabh Shah, an animal rescuer with NGO Spreading Awareness on Reptiles and Rehabilitation Programme (SARRP), received a call from Dahisar resident Sonam Pundlik about the gunnysack that was packed with puppies near Ganesh Nagar. As the rescuers immediately reached the spot along with Rajendra Kevat, a member of the Borivali Rotary Club, they were shocked to find about seven puppies inside the jute sack.

“The puppies had been inside the sack for a long time and they were shivering when we found them because of the cold and rains. Unfortunately, though six were in a slightly better condition, one had already succumbed to the cold. The sack was placed under a banner and hence wasn’t easily locatable,” said Mr Shah.

The activist then enquired about the incident but could not find a witness. Also, clues failed to turn up on CCTV camera footage of the neighbourhood. Mr Shah and Mr Kevat then took the puppies to a Borivali-based veterinarian who treated them.

Talking about the medical condition of the puppies, Dr Sunetra Wadle from Pet Wet veterinary clinic said the puppies, which are probably about a month old, have been recuperating. “As the puppies got drenched in the rain and were not fed for a long time they are suffering from hypothermia, diarrhoea and dehydration. They are stable as of now and the rescuers have been feeding them diluted cow milk,” said Dr Wadle.

Mr Shah said that the Rotary Club had adopted one of the puppies while the rest would be put for adoption and he would personally tend to them until they are fit.