A terrified dog was found abandoned and chained to a gate while nursing her six newborn puppies.
Shocking photos show the lurcher with a heavy metal chain around her neck while she fed her pups, who were so young their eyes hadn't opened yet.
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Fortunately, a kind-hearted member of the public discovered them by chance in a field in Elphin, a rural town in Roscommon, Ireland and contacted the ISPCA for assistance, but it is unclear how long they had been left in the field.
The dog and her puppies were transported to the ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford for urgent veterinary assessment and apart from being cold and hungry, they did not appear to have any health issues, thankfully and are doing well.
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The dog has now been named Emmy Lou and her little puppies are Billy Ray, Dixie, Dolly, Dotty, June and Patsy. They will remain in ISPCA care until the New Year when they will be old enough to be responsibly rehomed.
Speaking of the mum and her pups, ISPCA Centre Manager Hugh O'Toole said: "Leaving a young dog only two years old tied up without water, food, or shelter most definitely put her life 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," he continued.
"The dog was scanned for a chip to trace her owner but unfortunately she was not microchipped which, is a legal requirement."
Adding: "Our Centres are constantly full to capacity and with very limited resources, we sometimes have had to use private boarding kennels to help the number of animals waiting to come in, once space becomes available.
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"It can also take time to find good responsible homes for the many animals in our care."
The ISPCA is urging pet owners to consider neutering or spaying their pets as soon as possible to prevent accidental litters of puppies or kittens being born.
Anybody with information is asked to contact the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline in confidence on 1890 515 515 or report online here.
Featured Image Credit: ISPCA