Nine adorable puppies named after chocolate bars are searching for new homes after their owner struggled to cope.
The Staffordshire bull terrier cross litter were handed over to the RSPCA alongside their underweight mum, Cocoa, who had been struggling to feed such a large brood.
Officers christened the puppies Rolo, Wispa, Freddo, Truffle, Caramac, Twix, Bounty, Smartie and Buttons.
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Despite Cocoa’s condition, staff at Felledge Animal Centre, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, say the six-week-old puppies are thriving, as reported by What’s the Jam.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “They are doing really well and are real bundles of affection.
“Cocoa was underweight but had clearly been doing her best – the puppies themselves are quite chunky.
“She’s still feeding them here, but we’re supplementing her so she can regain strength.
“Getting young pups out of a kennel environment as soon as possible is crucial to help them grow into well-rounded adults. We want committed owners – not people looking for a puppy for Christmas.
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“These little ones will need feeding four times a day at first and plenty of socialisation.”
But given their age, they should adapt well to homes with children, cats or other dogs.”
The pups will be advertised for adoption this weekend, giving potential owners a couple of weeks to apply before the dogs reach eight weeks old and are ready to leave their mum.
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Cocoa, believed to be around two years old, will remain at the centre a little longer as she builds up to a healthy weight.
The RSPCA hopes to find responsible adopters willing to provide training, long-term care and eventual neutering.
Anyone interested in rehoming one of the chocolate-themed pups is encouraged to apply via the RSPCA’s adoption channels once they officially become available.
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