A RESCUE centre which took in four puppies abandoned at the roadside has issued a message to the dogs' former owner. 

The border terriers were rescued last week, as revealed by the Echo, after being found on a lane leading into Thorncombe.

A passer-by alerted Hounds First Sighthound Rescue in Beaminster who have since taken care of the litter. 

Rachel Hayball, who works for the charity, recorded a video aimed at the dogs' former owner.

In the video she said: "I only hope that you are watching these videos and watching the updates and feeling really, really bad.

"I really hope you do. 

"I'm not going to wish any badness on you. I'm not going to wish something bad happens to you. I'm really hoping you don't breed (dogs) again. 

"If you have got any more dogs in your care do me a favour and contact me." 

Updating viewers on the litter's condition, Rachel said the dogs were suffering from mange, a condition which if treated initially could have cost £10 per puppy.

She said: "There are rescue centres all over the UK and vets all over the UK that if you had approached them would have helped."

Speaking to the Echo, Rachel said: "There has been a lot of public interest in the puppies so we are keeping everyone up to date with what's happening with them.

"We've had these puppies since Friday. We've got through the shock.

"We've got to the bit where we are all feeling a bit angry.

"I've never known puppies to be as flat as they are. It's not because they're ill. It's because they're scared.

"I'm doing lots of work with them and two have come out of their shell quite quickly. One still cowers when you approach her. 

"There's a small chance the person did this may see the video and make them think.

"The puppies are in an awful state. What is their mum going to be like?"

Rachel said the puppies' immune system had hit rock bottom, leading to eye, skin and urine infections. 

She said: "The puppies have missed out on everything these normal puppies should have had.

"Everything is new to them. Everything is scary.

"It's going to take a long time to bring these puppies round. I just want to make sure the person who did this really thinks, and make other people think."

Rachel revealed the centre had received more than 100 enquiries from people wanting to rehome the dogs. 

She said: "We've had an incredible amount of interest in the puppies. They are not mentally or physically ready to be rehomed and won't be for a while.

"We'd like to thank people for all the donations. We have donations of money.

"We've had donations of puppy pads and puppy food which we would like to thank people for. The response has been overwhelming."