PUPPY milk and cotton wool are desperately needed by staff at Ipplepen’s Animals in Distress Centre as they cope with the insistent demands of seven abandoned pups.

The charity has been working around the clock to save the tiny week-old creatures after they were put out with the rubbish on bin day in Torquay.

Luckily a passer-by found the SOS seven in their cardboard box before the refuse lorry arrived. He handed in them in the nearest vet.

His chance discovery, after hearing their cries, also came 30 minutes before heavy rain which probably would have killed them.

Animals in Distress is now feeding the hungry little boys and girls every two hours while efforts are made to establish the seven’s sad story.

There are also concerns for the welfare of the litter’s mum. Animals in Distress wants to hear from anyone able to throw some light on the mystery.

Meanwhile constant care is being lavished on the centre’s new arrivals, who at the moment need to overcome their frightening start to life before being considered for re-homing.

A spokeswoman said the litter were ‘doing well, so far.’

But they are not out of danger yet because they were parted from their mum at such an early stage.

‘Everyone is working hard to care for them. We hope they will pull through,’ said the spokeswoman.

She added that supplies of puppy milk and cotton wool were drying up – and they would grateful for any help from the public.