WARRINGTON Animal Welfare is appealing for big-hearted dog lovers to help a couple of puppies found abandoned in a cardboard box dumped down a secluded dirt track.

The five-week-old lurcher crosses have suffered horrifically in their short lives and, when they were rescued last week, they were riddled with fleas and hook worms, which latch on to animals with their teeth.

Since being found, four of the six have died.

Janet Thornton, a volunteer for the charity, said: “They were emaciated when we picked them up.

“The puppies were in a dreadful state. I have never seen animals with such a bad case of worms – they were coming out of the tiny pups’ mouths and bottoms.

“They have been kept in horrendous conditions and the pads of their paws were burnt from faeces and urine.

“These puppies have suffered terribly in their short lives and we are urging people to help us with donations for their veterinary care to give them a chance of a happy life.”

Anyone able to give donations should contact Janet on 07837 344418 or send them c/o Warrington Animal Welfare to 9 Alderbank Road, Great Sankey, WA5 3DW.