Sheffield dog owner says puppies 'are dying' while mother is in council pound as she can't afford £80 fee

The resident, who asked not to be named, says she is spending nights awake caring for the anxious pups while their mother is in Sheffield Council’s kennels on West Bar.

She says her rescue dog, Roxy, a 5-year-old papillon/chihuahua cross, ran off after she slipped off her collar at 10am on Tuesday, May 24. By 1pm, she was picked up by the council’s dog warden.

However, Roxy had a litter of three puppies three weeks ago. She has now been separated from them for two nights.

Now, the resident says the puppies ‘are dying’ without their mother as she does not have the £65 to release her from council care – and the fee rises by £15 a day after the first two days.

As of May 26, after two days, she says one of the puppies has died without its mother, and the fee has risen to £80.

She said: “I’ve been up all night looking after the puppies.

"They’re screeching all night looking for their mother, and I know she will be anxious without them too.

“They are in a really bad state without their mother.

"One of them has already died overnight, after two days without its mother. It was in a really bad condition. It’s heartbreaking.

"I’ve got no money to my name and they won’t release her without the £65, and it increases by £15 every day.

"To be honest I just really want the mother back, for the puppies’ sake. I physically cannot look after the puppies without the mother.

"I want the council to send Roxy home for the sake of her and her puppies.”

The resident says she is already £400 in debt after rescuing Roxy and her puppies in the past month.

Following a enquiry to Sheffield City Council by The Star on the evening of May 24, Roxy was released back to her on the morning of May 26 following the death of the puppy. The release fee was also waived.

Councillor Joe Otten, committee chair for waste and street scene policy committee, said: “We are happy to release Roxy so that she can be with her puppies. Dogs that we impound are usually only released by the owner paying the release fee, but on this occasion, there will be no fee to pay.”

Sheffield City Council’s website says any dog that is not reclaimed after seven days becomes its property and may be made available for adoption.

The council also has kennels in Gibraltar Street and Bower Spring.

The webpage says anyone who finds a stray dog has the option to return it to their owner if possible, contact the council to have it collected or to visit one of their kennels.

Anyone who loses their dog is able to contact the city’s kennels directly on 0817 497 995 to see if their pet has been impounded.