Hoping for a home: Clearwater dogs now available for adoption

Many of the 16 dogs seized from a property in Clearwater earlier this month are now available for adoption at the Kelowna and Penticton BC SPCA branches and staff are hoping they’ll find the perfect forever homes for all of them.

In Penticton, six of the 16 dogs – mostly standard poodles and golden retrievers – are hoping for loving guardians to make a place for them in heart and hearth.

“They will all need homes with a lot of time, patience and understanding,” says Corinne Ross, manager of the South Okanagan/Similkameen BC SPCA Branch. Because of the neglectful conditions in which they had been kept, they are fearful, have eating issues, may try to escape, have separation anxiety and need some house training. “We are confident that they will, in time, become wonderful adoptions to a loving family.”

Suzanne Pugh, manager of the Kelowna SPCA branch, where three of the seized dogs, all golden retrievers, are now available for adoption, agrees.

“They just need the right person or people to help them understand they’re now part of a safe and caring home that is completely different from the horrid conditions they’d become accustomed to,” Pugh says. “Preference will be given to those living in the Okanagan so that each branch can continue to provide rehabilitation support.”

Badly neglected, the dogs required extensive medical treatment ranging from spaying and neutering to dental surgery and more, much of it costly. The lovable canines had been living in unacceptable conditions when seized by BC SPCA constables. Two horses in distress were also removed from the property; three deceased animals were also found on site.

“As we continue to seek donations toward both medical and rehabilitation costs, sincere thanks to SPIN – Standard Poodles in Need Rescue and Rehome in Greater Toronto, for generously donating $1,000 to help these dogs,” Pugh says. SPIN is a foster-based non-profit organization primarily concerned with the welfare of homeless or unwanted standard poodles and poodle mixes. The group is collaborating with the BC SPCA to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions of puppy mills and to advocate for change.

Pugh and her staff have even entered a Kelowna SPCA team in the Kelowna Mudd, Sweat and Tears event, a 12-kilometre obstacle course mud run, to help with fundraising for the Clearwater seizure-related costs.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization that relies on the public’s generosity to carry out its mission. If you can help these dogs and other animals like them in need at the Kelowna and Penticton BC SPCA shelters, donations will be gratefully received online (Donate to the BC SPCA Kelowna or Penticton Branch) or in person, at 3785 Casorso Rd., Kelowna and at 2200 Dartmouth Drive, Penticton.

Update: Feb. 18, 2014
BC SPCA hopes public will help dogs seized in Clearwater

Sixteen dogs seized from a property in Clearwater B.C. earlier this month are continuing their road to recovery, and the BC SPCA is hoping the public can help them have a good start to a better future.

The Kelowna and Penticton Branches of the BC SPCA are continuing to work with the badly neglected canines through a rehabilitation program that focuses on medical care, emotional welfare development and socialization, but veterinary costs have escalated, as many of the dogs need more extensive medical treatment than initially identified.

Photo captions: (Top) Goldendoodle upon seizure by BC SPCA officers; (Middle & bottom) Poodles after grooming & treatments

“Sadly, many of the dogs require intensive dental medical treatment as well as other surgeries – most have now been spayed or neutered,” says Suzanne Pugh, manager, Kelowna Branch, BC SPCA. “One dog is recovering from a five-hour surgery where several masses were removed, samples have been sent away for diagnosis and extensive dental work was carried out. Another has a heart condition requiring further monitoring.”

The dogs, mostly standard poodle and golden retriever crosses, had been living in unacceptable and neglectful conditions when seized by SPCA constables. Two horses in distress were also removed from the property and three deceased animals were found on the site.

The dogs are being placed in foster care so that BC SPCA staff and volunteers can continue to monitor their medical and emotional conditions. “We hope to have the dogs in foster care for a short time and then place them up for adoption once they are ready,” Pugh says.

Original story: published Feb. 3, 2014

BC SPCA seizes golden retriever/standard poodle-crosses in Clearwater

BC SPCA special constables have seized 16 dogs – mostly standard poodle and golden retriever crosses – and two quarter horses from a rural property in Clearwater, B.C.

Constable Kent Kokoska, senior animal protection officer with the BC SPCA, said the badly neglected dogs were filthy and severely matted and were living in unacceptable conditions. The horses were also being kept in substandard conditions and were severely matted, with cracked and chipped hooves. Two deceased dogs and one deceased calf were also found on the property.

“We are grateful to the Clearwater RCMP for bringing this case to our attention,” said Kokoska. “Our 26 SPCA constables have extensive areas to cover across B.C and we respond to more than 7,000 complaints of animal cruelty each year, so it is very helpful for us to have the support of communities in reporting cases of suspected abuse or neglect.”

Kokoska calls the level of neglect of the seized animals “very disturbing” and notes that the investigation is continuing and charges of animal cruelty are pending in the case.

The dogs are currently receiving ongoing care and treatment at the BC SPCA’s community animal centres in Penticton and Kelowna and the horses are being cared for in Kamloops. The animals are currently not up for adoption, but please check the BC SPCA website at spca.bc.ca for updates.

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a not-for-profit organization reliant on public donations. Our mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in B.C.