Dogsey

A puppy which was taken to a Merseyside rescue centre after being found abandoned under a hedge could have been the victim of trafficking.

The 10-week-old dog – thought to be a husky cross-breed – was found under a hedge on a main road by a dog warden and taken to Merseyside Dogs Home where staff have named her Pandora.

She became an internet sensation after a video of her posted on the rescue centre's social media page was watched by more than 200,000 people.

Paul Dunne, from the centre, said there were concerns she had been brought over as part of a puppy trafficking ring.

He said: “We think she is a ‘designer dog’ as she’s smaller than a husky. She might be a Pomeranian husky cross.

“These dogs are worth about £2,500.

“It seems really strange that someone who paid that much wouldn’t microchip her or report her missing.

“So many people have watched the video of her online but no one has come forward.”

Paul said since laws in this country have been tightened to clamp down on puppy farms there had been an increase in trafficking.

He said: “We think there’s a possibility that she might have come over from Eastern Europe in a van load.

“Normally they will bring five to six litters over in a van, so up to 50 puppies.

“She might have got out or she might have been abandoned.

“She had fleas and worms when we found her but apart from that she was in good condition.

“We are going to give her a rabies injection just in case.”

He appealed for anyone who recognised Pandora, or had seen any other dogs like her for sale, to get in touch with the centre.

He said: “We have called her Pandora because really we want to open Pandora’s Box and find out where she has come from and what has happened to her.”

He said Trading Standards were investigating the case.

Paul said the reaction to the puppy online had been unbelievable.

He said: “Everyone wants to give her a home but we aren’t even thinking about rehoming her yet, we just want to give her the care she needs and find out what has happened.

“She is in a foster home at the moment getting used to people.”

He added: “The only bad thing about all the attention she has had is we have 60 other dogs in the rescue centre who still need new homes.