On October 7, the BC SPCA brought 27 dogs and one cat into care from a rural property in the Kootenays, following an animal protection investigation involving concerns of irresponsible breeding and neglect. The 27 seized dogs were French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Kangal shepherds, and heelers, as well as several mixed-breed dogs, and included 12 puppies ranging in age from eight weeks to seven months old. Due to the number of animals known to be on the property, their condition, and the remote location, a large response team was required. The BC SPCA mobilized a team of 10 staff—including eight animal protection officers—as well as a significant RCMP presence.
“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,” explains Matt Affleck, regional manager, cruelty investigations, Okanagan/Interior. “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. 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, due to their underdeveloped immune systems, were especially susceptible. “Some of the puppies had severely distended stomachs because of a very serious worm infection,” says Affleck. “The infection is so significant it will require a specialized deworming protocol as the sheer number of worms could cause a bowel obstruction if they all passed at once. It is really heartbreaking to see puppies in this condition.”
Affleck adds he has never heard of this type of procedure 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. 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.”
Once in BC SPCA care, the animals were transferred to animal centres across the province to receive the necessary and appropriate care. Many of the dogs were initially very fearful from under-socialization, although they are already warming up to centre staff.
“It’s so nice to hear that the dogs are starting to let their guards down. 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. The Kangal mama let one of our volunteers sit and snuggle with her for a whole 30 minutes over the weekend,” says Affleck. “And they’ve made great progress with one of the heeler mixes as well. He was one of the more mistrusting dogs at first, but now he likes to come in for bum scratches and will do a little wiggly dance for them. And of course, one of the staff favourites is the little tripod pup. She 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.”
As this is an ongoing investigation, the animals are not currently available for adoption and it is unknown when they might be.