Woodgreen believe the mother may have been abandoned while pregnant. She was rescued alongside her puppies in freezing cold temperatures.
Five stray puppies have been rescued alongside their mother in Peterborough. Fern, a stray Shiba Inu, was discovered hiding with her tiny puppies in freezing temperatures.
The puppies are believed to have been between two and three weeks old, and staff at Woodgreen Pets Charity think Fern may have been abandoned while she was pregnant. When she was found, she was extremely nervous and underweight.
A spokesperson for Woodgreen, the pet charity that took the dogs in and is now looking after them, explained how the mother had been spotted multiple times by Peterborough residents over the last two weeks. They had been trying, but failing, to catch her.
The spokesperson continued: “In the early hours of 20 November, in freezing cold temperatures, a group of locals finally managed to catch Fern after seeing her head pop out of a hole in the base of a tree in a field in Bretton, Peterborough. It was discovered that she was hiding and protecting five tiny puppies in the hole.
“They then got in contact with Woodgreen. Paiton, one of our community outreach officers, drove to the finder’s home to collect mum and puppies and bring them to Woodgreen to get the care they needed.
“We will support Fern with nursing and weaning the puppies, before they’re all ready to find new homes.”
As well as naming the mum Fern, Woodgreen has named the puppies Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom. They appear to be Shiba Inu crossbreeds but, as they are strays, the charity is unsure what other breed they are crossed with.
While the mother and puppies are now doing well, the Woodgreen spokesperson explained how Fern struggled when she was first brought to safety: “Fern was extremely nervous on arrival at Woodgreen, and spent the entirety of the veterinary checks hiding away in the corner of the vet room.”
With Christmas approaching, and the associated financial strains impacting some pet owners, Woodgreen is urging those struggling to seek support by either contacting Woodgreen or another charity.
