Blind dog euthanized to ‘end its suffering’ after being abandoned at Calgary pet store

The Calgary Humane Society (CHS) is hoping that surveillance footage can help the public help them identify a woman who abandoned a “blind and immobile” dog at a local pet store.

The woman walks into the Sunridge Petland store in Calgary around noon on Feb. 21, concealing the senior female dog under her jacket.

Within minutes, she leaves the store with her jacket loose and open.

A short time later, staff discovered the blind and immobile dog, believed to be a maltese or bichon, left behind.

The CHS was notified and the dog was seized as abandoned.

Sadly, an examination of the dog revealed a very poor prognosis due to untreated diabetes.

“Diabetic animals that go untreated suffer immensely,” said a release from the CHS. “Veterinarians determined the dog needed to be euthanized to end its suffering.”

Despite the surveillance footage, investigators have been unable to identify the woman who abandoned the dog and are hoping the public can help them do so.

Brad Nichols, senior manager of Animal Cruelty Investigations with the CHS, says they’d like to speak with the woman to further understand her actions on that day.

“While some may see this as a semi-responsible abandonment as it was done indoors at a pet store, it remains irresponsible, inappropriate and criminal,” Nichols said.

“There are a multitude of veterinary clinics in the area, as well as the services of CHS that could have been utilized rather than dumping an elderly, blind dog in unfamiliar surroundings.”

Anyone with information about this case or the woman can contact the CHS by calling 403-205-4455 or by going online to www.calgaryhumane.ca.