AN animal welfare charity is hoping to find good homes for a litter of puppies.

The six cross-breed puppies have been looked after at Deerness Kennels at Langley Moor, near Durham City, by the Durham branch of the RSPCA virtually since they were born about six weeks ago.

The branch hopes that the youngsters will be old enough to be re-homed after January 8 and is on the look-out for would-be owners - not just for the six puppies but for other dogs being cared for by the charity.

A spokeswoman for the branch said: "We are desperate for homes for them.

"There are many dogs in our care who we are desperate to find loving homes for after Christmas.

"Some have been there a long time.''

"The puppies are lovely and we will vaccinate them. They will be ready to go to a new home fairly shortly.

"There is always an increase in dogs looking for new homes at Christmas and we currently have ten in our care at Deerness.''

The branch launched an adopt-a-kennel scheme three years ago to raise money to hire kennels for stray and abandoned dogs that would otherwise be put down after eight days.

The spokeswoman said that the adopt-a-kennel scheme was initially well-supported, but donations had tailed off.

"If we had more money, we could hire more room at the kennels and help to save more dogs."

Anyone who would like to adopt a puppy can contact the kennels on 0191-378 0439.

For more information about the adopt-a-kennel scheme, call 0191-386 5421.

,,,and Molly gets a happy ending at last

THIS Christmas, Molly, a three-year-old St Bernard, has been pampered by her new owners.

She has been bathed in bubbles, had her hair done with a hair dryer, dressed in a red ribbon and had her toe nails painted to celebrate the festive season.

Molly was rehomed with Ann and Geoff Smith and daughters Faye, 18, and Nicol, 22, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, after the couple saw a story in The Northern Echo.

Molly was taken in by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League because her last owner was not able to walk her.

Mrs Smith, 44, said: "When I opened the paper and saw the story, she just had me, and then when I saw her I knew we wanted her.

"She gets a lot of attention here and she knows it, everybody in the street knows her. She is totally spoilt."