A two-year-old dog was found helplessly chained to a fence in a field in Elphin, a small town in County Roscommon, Ireland. Someone abandoned the frightened dog along with her six newborn puppies who had not even been able to open their eyes properly.

The poor family was left without food and water, so they were cold and hungry. The mom, despite being restrained by the chain pulling at her collar, was trying to nurse and protect her babies.

Thankfully, a walker spotted the vulnerable animals by chance and called the police and ISPCA for help.

Soon after being found, the poor animals were taken to a vet at the ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford to be checked and treated.

Luckily, apart from being cold and hungry, the dogs did not appear to have any health issues. And of course, they will continue to be monitored at the center.

People were outraged after the ISPCA shared the heartbreaking story and photos of the mommy dog and her babies on Facebook.

“This has to be the saddest picture I have ever seen,” one commenter wrote. “[And] that is saying a lot with so much cruelty around us.”

“Look at the fear and vulnerability in the poor dog’s eyes,” another wrote. “Darling animal. Am crying seeing this.”

ISPCA Center Manager Hugh O’Tool said: “Leaving a young dog only two years old tied up without water, food or shelter most definitely put her along with her young puppies’ lives at risk. I don’t understand how anyone can think it is okay to leave a dog tied to a gate to nurse her puppies.”

“With the recent level of rainfall and cold weather this week, the outcome could have been very different and I’m happy we were alerted so we could help them.”

The ISPCA also thanked people who intervened and likely saved the dogs’ lives.

“To the kind-hearted animal lover who discovered them and alerted the Gardai and the ISPCA, we are so grateful,” they wrote. “We can’t help them without you so please continue to report cruelty, neglect or abuse.”

The mother dog had been named Emmy Lou and her puppies were Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, June and Patsy. The family will remain in ISPCA care until they are ready to find their forever homes.

It’s great that the dogs are now safe and being cared for, the main problem is that the debilitated individual who abandoned them is still out there.

The ISPCA is urging anyone with information to contact them in confidence on 1890 515 515 or report online to help bring this person to justice.

It’s difficult to accept how anyone can abandon a dog so inhumanely. Please share this story with your friends and family members to spread the news and carry this person to equity!