Dogged determination pays off

SIX puppies prematurely separated from their mother have been located after an incredible community effort to find them.

On Tuesday, the Mercury reported six puppies had been sold on Gumtree for $50 — sparking a search by Brightside Farm Sanctuary’s Emma Haswell to reunite them with their mother Lily.

Ms Haswell said two pups were given to her on Tuesday, with the remaining four collected yesterday and today.

“The support has been incredible,” she said.

“Some people couldn’t get them back fast enough.”

Ms Haswell said the people who bought the puppies didn’t know about their mother.

“One owner in the North of the state was told the mother had died,” she said.

Ms Haswell said the puppies were in good health and happy to be reunited with their mother. Once weaned, some will go back to the people who bought them. The others will be put up for adoption. RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Peter West urged people not to sell puppies online.

“The RSPCA finds the behaviour abhorrent because the sale of underage puppies is dangerous,” he said.

“Three and a half weeks is too young. The puppy needs to be vaccinated, desexed and microchipped, and needs to be an age where it can look after itself — which is usually eight weeks.”

Mr West said the violation of animal welfare laws was common.