People are being reminded that puppies aren't just for Christmas.

That's the message from the Athlone SPCA, after it emerged a number of pups were left on the side of a country road near Four Roads in Co Roscommon, on Christmas morning.

The Jack Russell pups, who were around seven-weeks-old, were only saved from freezing to death - by a jogger - who discovered them.

Welfare officer with Athlone SPCA, Billy Gallagher, spoke to Ciara McDonagh on Lunchtime today and he had this message for people:

The puppies are now doing fine.

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));