A BC SPCA investigation into concerns over irresponsible breeding and neglect resulted in the seizure of 28 animals from a rural property in the Kootenays earlier this month.
Due to the number of animals on the property, their condition and the remote location, a large team of BC SPCA and RCMP members teamed up to seize the animals on Oct. 7.
“The animals were kept mainly outdoors without appropriate shelter and there was inadequate fencing on the property, so the dogs were wandering off and running loose,” Matt Affleck, the BC SPCA’s manager of cruelty investigations for the region, explained through a media release.
According to the not-for-profit shelter organization, the 27 seized dogs were French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Kangal shepherds and heelers, along with several mixed breeds. Twelve of them were puppies ranging from eight weeks to seven months old.
“A number of the animals are underweight and have been put on a veterinarian supervised refeeding plan and many of the puppies were found with scarring and bite wounds, most likely due to fighting,” noted Affleck.
“We think it’s possible the animals were regularly drinking from a nearby, algae-covered pond since most of them have tested positive for parasites such as coccidia and giardia.”
The puppies were especially susceptible due to their underdeveloped immune system and Affleck says some had “severely distended stomachs” because of a very serious worm infection.
According to Affleck, a specialized deworming protocol is going to be required to help the puppies as the sheer number of worms could cause a bowel obstruction if they all passed at once.
It’s a type of procedure that Affleck says he’s never heard of being required in dogs.
“I believe this process is more common in horses, but this is the first time I've heard of a worm infection so grave that it needed to be followed for puppies,” he said.
“These little ones just have such an extreme number of worms in their systems that a different type of treatment from what we’re used to seeing is needed.”
Affleck calls it “really heartbreaking” to see puppies in this condition.
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Once the animals were in BC SPCA care, they were transferred to animal centres across the province to receive the necessary and appropriate care.
Many of them were very fearful from under-socialization, but have already made strides and are starting to warm up to staff.
“It’s so nice to hear that the dogs are starting to let their guards down,” Affleck said. “When they first arrived, many of them were extremely fearful of hands and leashes, but they’re starting to warm up to our staff and accept some love.”
He says the Kangal mama let one of the volunteers sit and snuggle with her for half an hour over the weekend, while great progress has been made with a heeler who was very mistrusting as well.
One of the most popular dogs from this intake is a little tripod pup, who Affleck says is “just the sweetest thing.”
“We don’t know exactly what happened to her leg, but we do know it was amputated at some point,” he noted.
Because this remains an ongoing investigation, none of the seized animals are currently available for adoption and it’s unknown when that will happen.
However, the BC SPCA welcomes donations to help care for these rescues and other animals in its care, which can be done through this online link.
