Over a dozen puppies were among 24 dogs that were rescued by an animal charity on Christmas Day in Scotland.
Welfare teams seized a total of 18 puppies in a major raid operation on Saturday, with the animals now receiving vital medical attention.
The charity has been unable to reveal the location of where the animals were rescued, due to an “ongoing investigation”.
Pictures released by the SSPCA show a bundle of puppies in a carrier – with one sporting a bloody-looking ear that appears to have been cropped.
A statement from the charity read: “On Christmas day our teams successfully seized 24 dogs including 18 puppies.
“These animals are thankfully now safe at one of our centres and receiving the medical attention they need.
“We will always put Scotland’s animals first, and are proud to be there for them 365 days a year. We couldn’t do this without our amazing supporters.
“This is an ongoing investigation so we are unable to share any more information at this time.”
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