Abandoned puppies named after Santa's reindeer get new homes in time for Christmas, as Sheffield family comes to rescue

Arthur, who was then named Rudolph, first came into the care of the RSPCA with eight other three-week old dachshund puppies who were believed to have been bred for sale as Christmas presents.

The puppies and their mum, Olive, were taken into the care of the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford and District branch a year ago.

Each puppy was then named after one of Santa's reindeers - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.

RSPCA Halifax said the puppies and their mum were finally rehomed last January and will be spending their first Christmas in their forever homes this year.

COURT: South Yorkshire man used child porn to pose as teenage girl in sex chat rooms so he could ask other adults "what would you like to do to me"

And Arthur was rehomed to the Hunt family in Sheffield, who were one of the first to go and view the mum and her adorable puppies.

Mrs Hunt said the family never had a dog before but they’d known they wanted to bring a pooch into their lives for a while.

She said: “We’d always said we wanted a dog and my husband said he really wanted a sausage dog then one night we saw this post on the RSPCA Halifax Facebook page.

LATEST: Lane closed on busy M18 near Rotherham after rush hour crash

"Then I sent in an application. I didn’t actually tell my husband at first! It wasn’t until I had an email back that I told him. We just fell in love with them but to be honest neither of us thought we would be accepted. We’d seen them on Look North and knew the RSPCA must have been inundated with offers. “When I got the email to say we had been accepted - I burst into tears I was so happy!”

“He’s so funny and loving.”

She added. “He loves his toys and tearing them to shreds, he loves walks in the park and he loves his grandad - he goes berserk when he sees him! How much we love him is just off the scale, he’s like my third child.”

RSPCA Halifax said other puppies have all been adopted by families in Derbyshire, South Derbyshire and Birkenhead, among others.

CORONAVIRUS: Keeping Sheffield in Tier 3 was the "Right Decision" says health chief

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.