A POORLY puppy is recovering after being dumped on the side of the M40 in a cardboard box.

The lurcher puppy – thought to be around seven weeks old – was found on the side of the motorway on a bed of wood chips with one pink toy inside the box.

A member of the public said he saw the puppy being dumped out of a car in a layby close to Junction 9 for Bicester.

The car, travelling southbound, happened to pull over as the dog was being ditched by another vehicle in front and went to look at what had been left next to the busy three-lane carriageway.

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Hart Vets surgeon Rosie Upton said: “When the puppy turned up he was clearly very underweight, grubby and had a horrible chest infection so he had very bad breathing.”

Since being brought into the Harts Veterinary Centre in Browning Drive, the staff said he has been getting a lot of cuddles and TLC from the nurses.

He has also been given the name Norbert after staff thought he resembled the Harry Potter dragon character.

Ms Upton added: “Since he turned up he has had an IV drip and been on antibiotics.

“I think he is doing well and gaining weight, but the question now is why is he still so underweight.

“At the moment he can be quite loud if he wants to be.

“Seeing him feeling a bit better I think he will be quite a naughty puppy but nothing that could not be improved on.”

Norbert will stay with the Bicester centre until his health is better. The centre will then have to consider getting in contact with rescue centres to find him a new home.

Practice manager Kate Mathis said: “Animals being abandoned on the motorway happens probably about two or three times a year that we come in contact with. We deal with abandonment generally on a regular basis.

“We are all obviously animal lovers and it is mortifying how anyone can do that sort of thing to any animal – not just puppies like Norbert – but any animal young, old, big or small.”