Puppies Galore!Round-the-clock care saves pups By Peter Reeve When eight rottweiler puppies were rescued by the RSPCA, the chances of them all surviving looked slim. But thanks to veterinary nurse Nicola Gray, who has hand-reared the pups, giving them round-the-clock feeds and toilet training, they are now fighting fit. Four have already been re-homed and the others were taken to the RSPCA Woodside Centre, in Scudamore Road, yesterday so the charity can start the search for potential owners. Nicola, 27, offered to become a "foster mum" to the pups after the RSPCA took them into The Park veterinary centre, in Glenfield, so they could be checked over. "When I saw the puppies, they were cold and extremely hungry but not in bad condition," she said. "I had looked after a few kittens, so when they wanted somebody to look after the puppies, I jumped at the chance straight away." The cross-breed puppies were just 10 days old when they were found living in unsuitable conditions on Boxing Day. An RSPCA inspector found the dogs with a couple, who were living in a tent in a field in Northampton. The couple could not cope with the new arrivals. After being taken in by the charity, they needed one-to-one care before they were old enough to be re-homed permanently. Nicola, who lives in Sapcote, had to make sure they were given milk every three hours until they were five weeks old – but luckily her mum Suzanne, brother Steven and two friends took it in turns to help. "It was hard work but very rewarding because they always did something to keep us entertained," said Nicola. "We also helped to socialise them by playing them CDs with the noise of storms and fireworks so they got used to the sound." Nicola and friend Mandy each decided to keep a puppy, and a nurse at The Park has also had two. But the other four rottweilers are now looking for new homes. RSPCA Woodside manager Lisa Smith said: "We still don't know why the puppies' mum ran away or why this couple had the puppies in a tent in a field. "But when the RSPCA inspector arrived, the couple agreed to sign the puppies over. "It is very difficult to hand-rear rottweiler puppies because they need so much care and attention. "It's a miracle that all eight puppies have pulled through. Nicola did a brilliant job, she deserves a medal." All of the puppies have now found homes, thanks to this story being reported in the Leicester Mercury. |
