Four litters each with six to seven pups found abandoned in several parts of Malta this week are looking for a home, the Animal Welfare Department said.

Welfare officer Janice Chetcuti said some of the puppies, aged between five and eight weeks, had been left close to main roads.

They were found just in time to be saved by animal welfare officers with the public's help.

Although all are weaned and able to eat on their own, they are very vulnerable and very much in need of individual loving care, Ms Chetcuti said.

The department, which is based at Ghammieri, is also currently providing shelter for another 120 dogs, which are also looking for a home.

Ms Chetcuti said that in spite of instances of cruelty to animals, the Maltese people loved animals and many had been saved because of timely reporting.

"There is a lot of consciousness and even recent court sentences reflect this," Ms Chetcuti said.

She said that during the open day at St Francis Welfare Centre at Ta' Qali on Sunday, the department managed around to find a home for around 10 cats and dogs.

The Animal Welfare Directorate is open to the public Mondays to Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., tel: 2590 4132, 2590 4113.