MORE than 200 people have offered new homes to six tiny puppies left to die in freezing temperatures.

Vet Jane Baines says human kindness has overwhelmed her after the animals were given such a cruel start in life.

The M.E.N. revealed last week how the shivering pups - four dogs and two bitches - were found huddled together in the corner of a cardboard banana box on waste ground in Heywood, near Rochdale.

The woman who found them took them to Mrs Baines at Heywood Veterinary Centre on Bridge Street, and the phone lines were jammed by people offering homes for them after the M.E.N. ran the story.

Mrs Baines, who heads the practice, said: "It got to the point where we had to say no more.

"We had a list with more than 200 names on it. After that we just had to tell people about organisations and rescue centres where they could find a dog needing a new home.

"It was really amazing the impact the story had on people.

"It was probably the wonderful pictures which caught people's eye, but I have never known such a public response.

"We are very grateful to everyone who offered to take one of the pups, but we can't let them go yet because they are only about five weeks old.

"Five are doing really well, but one is still very tiny and needs a lot of care."

Mrs Baines says the callousness of the person who dumped the pups has been offset by the kindness of so many people.

She said: "Even people who couldn't offer a home offered money to pay for their upkeep until they go to new homes."