Two one-day-old puppies dumped in a flooded rubbish bin were saved by a floating shoebox, says the Wellington SPCA.
The puppies were discovered by a passer-by, inside a bin in an Upper Hutt car park, just before 9pm last night.
The finder took the puppies and home and
rang the SPCA.
Animal welfare inspector Ben Lakomy said today he gave the finder advice over the phone on how to care for the puppies until he arrived to collect them.
The puppies, which appeared to be Labrador cross-breeds, were been soaking wet and cold when they were found, Mr Lakomy said.
"There was a good 15cm of water in the rubbish bin, but fortunately for the puppies there was a shoe box inside the bin that the puppies were floating on."
Mr Lakomy was concerned only two puppies were found, as more may have been dumped elsewhere in the area.
"This sort of mindless dumping is frustrating," he said.
"If the people had called us we would have come and picked the puppies up and helped them get the mother de-sexed, so they don't end up with another litter of unwanted puppies."
The puppies were taken back to the SPCA clinic where a vet checked them over, and they were now in foster care.
Mr Lakomy said they would be available for adoption in eight weeks.
He urged anyone with information on who dumped the puppies to call the SPCA on 389 8044 x812.
- NZPA
