In need of a loving home: 57 puppies who were destined to be sniffer dogs...until a security firm ditched them, for reasons unknown

 They are so playful and adorable, it is hard to imagine that anyone would ever want to give up a single labrador pup.

But a rescue charity has found itself with an influx of 57 of them all at once after they were suddenly all made homeless in bizarre circumstances.The dogs, which are aged from 13 weeks to ten months, were due to be specially trained for tough jobs such as sniffing out drugs and explosives.

A rescue charity has found itself with an influx of 57 of labrador pups all at once after they were suddenly all made homeless in bizarre circumstances

But a company that supplies them to security firms is said to have decided, for reasons unknown, that they no longer wanted them.

That's when the Many Tears Animal Rescue charity, based near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, stepped in and went on a mercy mission to Northern Ireland to pick up the entire group of puppies this week.

Yesterday Sylvia Van Atta, 63, who runs the charity, said: 'The kennel that was caring for the dogs prior to them starting full training was suddenly told they were no longer wanted by the supplier to the security companies – there was no proper explanation.

The dogs, which are aged from 13 weeks to ten months, were due to be specially trained for tough jobs such as sniffing out drugs and explosives

'These dogs could have ended up in Iraq, or at one time, Afghanistan.

'The majority of them are six months old and under and would have started their full training at seven to eight months old.'

Security companies pay more than £15,000 for a fully-trained sniffer dog. It can be a lucrative business for suppliers.

The kennel in Northern Ireland insisted Mrs Van Atta did not reveal names.

A company that supplies them to security firms is said to have decided, for reasons unknown, that they no longer wanted them

She said: 'The vet has checked them over and they're all super fit, very smart and well-put together dogs from working lines.

'They're all in very good condition and had obviously been looked after very well before all this happened.

'Now I hope they'll lead very different lives with caring new owners. They would make great dogs for active families.'

If you are interested in giving one a new home, visit www.manytearsrescue.org.