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Abandoned puppies reunited with their mother
The rescue centre has launched a fundraiser to support the puppies' care.

The puppies were found in a shoebox outside a council office.

Seven puppies found abandoned in a shoebox have been reunited with their mother, in what the RSPCA is calling a ‘miracle’.

The two-week-old puppies were discovered in a shoebox outside of the Braintree District Council office, and were taken to RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home.

Believed to be terrier crosses, the puppies were too young to be raised away from their mother, and so rescue centre manager Sam Garvey took care of them. She took them home with her, where she hand reared them.

Ms Garvey fed them every few hours, and the puppies soon began to build some strength.

Following a social media competition, the puppies were named after Friends characters: Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Joey and Gunther.

Less than two weeks later, a crossbreed dog was brought into the centre that had been abandoned nearby. She was dirty, thin, and had matted fur.

The team were amazed to find that this abandoned dog was the mother of the seven puppies. They named her Samantha, after the rescue centre manager who fostered her offspring.

Although they tried to reintroduce Samantha to her puppies, unfortunately she did not form the bond that they were expecting.

Samantha has since been re-homed, and is settling in quickly to her new family.

The puppies are still too young to be re-homed, and are continuing to be cared for by the rescue centre. Danaher Animal Home has launched a fundraiser, Pound for a Pup, to help with the costs of caring for the puppies.

Ms Garvey said: “The puppies continue to grow and are becoming cheeky, playful dogs in our care. They’re not ready for rehoming yet and we’ll put their profiles on our website as soon as they’re up for adoption.

“We’re so incredibly happy that all of the puppies are doing really well and have survived this crucial time where they should have been with their mum. We are appealing to anybody that can to donate a pound for a pup to help us, help them.”

To donate, visit the Pound for a Pup fundraising page.

Image © RSPCA

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.