Puppy abandoned in biscuit box

25 April 2007

THE RSPCA has launched a neutering campaign in a bid to stem the surge in abandoned pets.

A tiny puppy dumped in a biscuit box in Orpington is among several unwanted animals found dumped in the South East in the past year and now in the charity's care.

The little black dog, six inches long and only a few weeks old, was found in a Cadbury Animals biscuit box in Stanley Road.

Named Stanley, he was too small for a kennel and so had to be fostered by a member of RSPCA staff.

Cadbury's made a donation to pay for his care and treatment because he was found in one of their boxes. Stanley now lives with a new family in Margate.

RSPCA bosses say the number of animals abandoned increased by more than 40 per cent last year.

Inspector Sonya Gray said: "Although Stanley has a happy ending, he should never have been dumped. It just shows how careless people can be with unwanted animals. If Stanley's mother had been neutered this would never have happened."

The RSPCA launched their neutering campaign yesterday to coincide with RSPCA week. Fliers are being set to pet owners over the next few weeks highlighting the importance of getting animals sterilised to avoid unwanted births and abandoned pets.

The RSPCA mobile neutering clinic will also be visiting towns offering cut-price operations to pet owners.

South East Regional Superintendent Dermot Murphy said: "Neutering makes sense.

"We are urging people to act to prevent problems for themselves and their pets in the future.