Relief over dumped litter of puppies after DNA test

A refuge caring for puppies dumped in Nottinghamshire say their futures are now certain after a DNA test proved they were not a banned breed.

Mansfield Wildlife Rescue feared the litter might have been dumped due to potentially being a type of XL bully.

But the charity said a DNA test found they were a crossbreed of Belgian Malinois and Staffordshire bull terrier.

The dogs were found in Mansfield Woodhouse when they were just days old.

Cheryl Martin, who runs the wildlife centre, took the eight puppies in on 3 April after they were found by a member of the public.

She said the charity was "totally relieved" after receiving the result.

"We don't have to worry any more, they can be rehomed.

"We've had quite a lot of interest already, so all being well, they will all have a home to go to when the time comes," she said.

The charity said it would continue to care for the puppies for about another eight weeks before they were rehomed.

Ms Martin added "the runt of the litter" did not survive after having been unwell but that the rest were "doing absolutely fine".

She said she believed the owner dumped them because of concerns they could be XL bullies, which were made illegal to own in England and Wales on 1 February.

"It's a real shame because they could have stayed with their mum," she said.

The RSPCA said previously it had seen "some cases of abandoned XL bullies".

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