WARNING: Graphic images below.
On November 21, the BC SPCA’s Animal Helpline received a call from a grandfather and granddaughter who happened upon a deceased dog in a remote, wooded location near Penticton. The responding animal protection officer investigated immediately and found what appeared to be a German Shepherd, muzzled and tightly tethered to a tree. The dog was found in a remote, mountainous region south of Penticton, on McIntyre Creek Road near Vaseaux Lake.
Due to the levels of decomposition, it was not possible to determine the sex of the dog. The body was found with a navy blue and black harness and had a black, rubber basket muzzle on its snout. The dog had no identification tags or permanent identification, such as a tattoo or microchip. There were no signs of obvious injuries or trauma, and a necropsy will be performed to determine cause of death.
“This was a thick rope used to tie the dog up, and it was given less than two feet of length. It’s clear from the tightness of the knot just how hard the dog struggled to get free. It was pulled completely taut,” says Matt Affleck, regional manager, cruelty investigations – Okanagan/Interior. “It’s awful to think about the dog’s last moments and the panic of being left alone in the woods to die in this way.”
“The level of suffering this poor animal had to go through is something no creature should have to endure. We’re conscious that we don’t yet have all the information about how the dog ended up here, but the use of a basket muzzle and such a tight tether with a thick rope is concerning. Especially while wearing a muzzle like this one, there was no chance this poor dog could chew itself free.”
The BC SPCA is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the dog and/or the dog’s owner. Anyone who believes they have relevant information is asked to call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline: 1-855-622-7722, open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days per week.
More than 7,600 animal cruelty investigations were conducted by the BC SPCA last year. The non-profit is reliant on donations from the public to continue its work. To find out how you can help, please visit spca.bc.ca/support.
