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One breeder may have dumped 28 dogs, charity fears

Antonia Matthews
BBC News
Hope Rescue Three black Labrador or mixed breed dogs sitting on patch of artificial grass wearing collars and looking up at the cameraHope Rescue
These dogs were found in Glynneath as part of a larger group of 15 and have some health issues

A charity believes as many as 28 dogs that have come into its care may have been dumped by a single large-scale breeder.

Dog rescue charity Hope Rescue said the dogs included labradors, golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and mixes of those breeds and were found in Bridgend, Swansea and Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot.

Sara Rosser of Hope Rescue, based in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said the animals likely all came from the same place and were all "quite traumatised" when they were rescued.

"It's been a really shocking case for us, even for our longest-serving staff, we've never seen anything like this," she told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Hope Rescue Matted honey-coloured golden retriever or cross breed lying in dog bed with blanket over hind legs and backHope Rescue
Leo was among a large group of labradors, retrievers and cocker spaniels loose in Bridgend

Ten dogs were brought into the charity from Bridgend, while another 15 dogs - believed to be from the same place - were dumped in Glynneath.

Another three, found in the Gower in Swansea, have also been taken into the care of Hope Rescue.

"We're really concerned that this may be a large-scale breeder who is now essentially sort of coordinating and dumping across south Wales, which is a huge concern," Ms Rosser added.

She said all the dogs found in Bridgend were female, and all the dogs dumped in Glynneath were male.

"So it would definitely appear that this was a planned abandonment," she said.

Hope Rescue Sara Rosser pictured sitting against a wall wearing burgundy Hope Rescue branded fleece. She has long dark hair tied back in a pony tail.Hope Rescue
Sara Rosser said the suspected dumping was a "huge concern"

Ms Rosser said none of them were used to walking on a lead, adding they were "very scared of people".

The charity believes the dogs are all under three years old, with the majority about 18 months old.

Members of the public did an "incredible" job of catching the dogs, she said, but they are quite traumatised from their experiences.

Many of the dogs also have some medical problems and will need care before they can be re-homed.

"But luckily, with the breeds they are as well, we think they'll be quite popular. We just need to find those right homes that can support them on their journey," she said.

The RSPCA said: "We understand that people are struggling with the cost of living crisis but abandoning animals out in the cold is never acceptable."

It added that there are lots of animal welfare charities who can offer advice and asked "anybody in a difficult situation to seek support".

Hope Rescue Two yelow Labrador Retriever dogs lying together on a blanker, one with its head resting on the other's head.Hope Rescue
These two dogs were also found loose in Bridgend and are now with Hope Rescue