FOUR puppies abandoned in a Herefordshire wood and left to die are recovering in foster homes.
The lurchers were found whimpering, cold and hungry in undergrowth by a walker.
They are now in the care of Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue, who have christened them Hansel, Gretel, Woody and Heidi.
The charity's national re-homing manager, Dawn Turner, has described the person who dumped the puppies as behaving in a disgusting manner.
The four puppies, aged about eight weeks, were taken to a police station and were collected by Herefordshire Council dog warden Matt Faulds.
They were given a health check at the Brookfield Veterinary Practice in Hereford and are now living comfortably and gaining weight in two foster homes. It is hoped they will find new homes soon.
With Christmas looming, Dawn urged people not to give dogs as presents. "In a lot of cases they have ended up in our care by the new near."
People were warned to be prepared for the responsibilities of dog owning - veterinary costs, feeding, exercise, worming, annual vaccinations, neutering - and last but not least, love and attention.
Dawn Turner said: "If anybody who has a pet they no longer want, or cannot care for, please do the decent thing and hand it over to a rescue or vet. Don't abandon them."
