Two puppies left abandoned by the side of a busy road are now recovering at an animal rescue centre near Sevenoaks.

Tinsel and Bauble, who are believed to be aged between six to eight months, were found yesterday by a passer-by after being dumped at a lay-by next to a busy road.

KMTV report on Tinsel and Bauble's recovery

The unnamed rescuer took them to the Last Chance Animal Rescue in Edenbridge where they were found to both be quite ill.

Jenny Mansfield, the centre manager, said: “A lady drove past and saw them sitting on the lay-by, so she picked them up and brought them over to us.

“They could have quite easily have been run over, they could have gone off and become stray for however long, you never know what’s going to happen

“Luckily our vet was in so she was able to see them straight away and start treatment, they've got quite badly infected skin, they’ve got worms, flea-infestation as well. They would have had this for a few weeks now.

“It’s going to be quite a long ongoing treatment of twice weekly baths, antibiotics and worming treatments”

She continued: “It could be that somebody bred them and were looking to sell them and make a bit of money.

“Then obviously they’ve not looked after them very well, then they have to be treated an obviously they don’t want to pay out any money to treat them so they’ve been dumped.”

But unfortunately what happened to Tinsel and Bauble is not that rare here in Kent, especially this time of year.

Ms Mansfield continued: “We get dogs being dumped, we get strays brought in.

“If people can’t keep their dogs anymore then they want it gone before Christmas so they can enjoy the festivities without the burden of the dog they don’t want anymore.”

Now the charity are urging people to think about buying a dog as a Christmas present.

“People think it’s a nice idea to get puppies for Christmas but you have to think of the long term whether you can look after them for the next 14/15 years,” she added “Also Christmas is a really busy time so it’s not the best time to bring home a new puppy anyway which people don’t realise until they’ve done it, then they can’t manage and then they end up looking to somewhere like us to help.”

Despite only being at the centre for a day, Tinsel and Bauble seem to be settling in well.

Their treatment is expected to last for another three to four weeks and then both of the puppies will be looking for their forever homes along with all the other animals currently at the rescue.

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