BLEAKHOLT Animal Sanctuary is looking for homes for two stray dogs who were callously dumped by their owner in freezing temperatures.

The German Shepherd cross and Cairn Terrier were spotted on the sanctuary's surveillance cameras on Boxing Day night but it wasn't until the following day they were eventually caught by Bleakholt manager Neil Martin and head of dogs Michael Wardle.

Mr Martin said: 'By this time, they had been dodging traffic and looking for shelter and food for over 15 hours.'

He said that during the previous evening, temperatures on the moors near Bleakholt in Edenfield had fallen to minus five.

'Both dogs are male and it is probable that they were considered to be a nuisance to the Christmas festivities and were accordingly dumped.'

Both dogs are close to each other and the German Shepherd cross is very protective of the Cairn Terrier. Bleakholt staff have named them Oliver and Tiny Tim, and they have been kennelled together. Apart from being footsore, cold and hungry, staff say they appear to be in reasonable health.

They will stay at the sanctuary for 28 days before they can look at being rehomed together. Anyone interested in providing a home for the pair should contact Bleakholt on 08700 620530.

On New Year's Eve an elderly whippet cross dog was discovered in a distressed state in the vicinity of the sanctuary and found to have a cricket-ball sized rectal tumour and a smaller vulval polyp.

t is undergoing further medical examiniation

l It isn't all bad news from Bleakholt.

Over the festive period, the sanctuary has received so much donated food that it has had to make extra room for its storage.

And many wellwishers have also donated money, including a man who arrived with a £1,000 cheque, following the Bury Tuimes report of 38 cats being dumped outside the sanctuary. They are due to find new homes in the next few weeks.