Dave found Wilfred when he stopped to unload his mountain bike from his truck. He was getting ready to ride the trails off Postil Road in Kelowna when he noticed a light reflecting off something down the embankment by the road.
“When I saw the pet carrier, I figured it was empty and had been left there as garbage, but I just got this feeling I should check to make sure there wasn’t an animal inside,” says Dave. “Then I saw Wilfred. His collar had been looped through the door of the carrier. He couldn’t move and he was covered in feces and urine He was so skinny.” Dave adds that he normally doesn’t ride the trails on this part of the mountain; he feels like he was meant to be there and to save Wilfred.
He could sense Wilfred’s strong desire to live when he brought him back to his home to make arrangements to bring him to the veterinary clinic. “As much as he had been through, he had this spark.” Together with his partner Karen, they brought him to the veterinary clinic.
“Wilfred was emaciated, dehydrated, anemic and had a puncture through his upper lip as well as scars on his nose,” says Shannon Paille, manager of the BC SPCA’s Kelowna animal centre. He was treated for the wound on his lip and put on a refeeding plan to help him safely gain weight. He was released from the vet clinic to the BC SPCA’s care once he had stabilized and was placed with a BC SPCA foster to recover.
“Dave and Karen expressed their interest in adopting Wilfred once he was cleared by the veterinarian and we confirmed that an owner could not be found,” says Paille. “They sent in their application, and we were thrilled to reunite them.”
“We were so delighted to see how much Wilfred had changed when we went to the animal centre to bring him home,” says Karen. “He only weighed seven pounds and he could barely walk when he arrived at the veterinary clinic; now he weighs eleven and he is running around and playing with so much energy!” She adds that he has the most beautiful coat.
When asked if they are going to change Wilfred’s name, Karen says they were thinking of Oscar but decided that “Willie the wonder weinie” was the perfect name for him. “This poor little guy has already been through so much; we didn’t want to confuse him with a name change – and it suits him.”
Since bringing him home they have noticed just how big and delightful his personality is, not to mention how completely he has healed from his injuries. “The first day he did something that shocked Dave and I,” says Karen. “He was roaming around, checking out his new home. I was preparing dinner on the kitchen island and all of a sudden Willie jumps three feet in the air to see what I was doing. Dave and I just looked at each other. We couldn’t believe what had just happened.”
One of the things they are most happy about is how much Harper their Aussie doodle and Willie get along. “They have breakfast and dinner together and then they immediately go pull toys out of the bin and start playing,” says Karen. “Just adorable. I didn’t know how Harper would be with a new dog in the home, she is pretty quiet, but they whip each other up. Dave and I watch them run around the kitchen island, sofa, out onto the deck and the yard together. We laugh all the time.”
Karen says they had a little trepidation about bringing a dog who has suffered such significant trauma into their home. “He is a little timid when he first meets people, but he loves other dogs and is so cuddly and playful. He has been the best addition to our family,” she says. Not surprisingly he has totally bonded with Dave. “Every night he sleeps curled up right beside him and Harper sleeps next to me. We are just so happy with our beautiful, furry family.”
Emaciated dachshund found trapped in carrier rescued by Good Samaritan
Original story: April 24, 2024
The starved dachshund was found by a Good Samaritan who was driving his truck to get to mountain bike trails off Postil Road in Kelowna. As he was unloading his bike from his truck, he noticed a light reflecting off something down the embankment. He went to check it out and noticed a pet carrier. He assumed it was empty but wanted to double-check. Thankfully, he did. Inside was an emaciated dachshund covered in feces and urine whose collar had been looped through the door of the carrier, severely restricting his movement.
“The Good Samaritan and his partner brought the dog to an emergency vet clinic,” says Shannon Paille, manager of the BC SPCA’s Kelowna animal centre. “It really is a miracle the dog was found. The Good Samaritan shared with me that he usually rides much further up the mountain than where he stopped and doesn’t know why he chose to stop there.” Paille adds that she is not sure how much longer the dog would have survived in the cold and wet given the condition he was in. It was obvious he had been down there for quite some time.
Wilfred, as named by BC SPCA staff, was emaciated, dehydrated, anemic and had a puncture through his upper lip as well as scars on his nose. He was treated for the wound on his lip and put on a refeeding plan to help him safely gain weight. He was released from the vet clinic to the BC SPCA’s care once he had stabilized and is currently recovering in a BC SPCA foster home. The Society is paying for all of Wilfred’s veterinary care.
“We have been trying to find Wildred’s owner,” says Paille. “We found a microchip, but it wasn’t registered.” As he is beginning to recover Wilfred’s charming personality is starting to come out. The staff at the BC SPCA and the veterinary clinic where he was treated have all fallen in love with this little fighter. “He is wearing a sweater right now to limit his discomfort and help him stay warm while he gains weight,” says Paille.
She adds that when the Good Samaritans saw a photo of Wilfred on the Kelowna animal centre’s Facebook page, they were relieved to see a sparkle back in his eyes. “They were so scared when they brought him to the vet clinic,” says Paille. “His eyes were so sad. He looked like he had lost hope.”
Wilfred will remain on a refeeding plan under veterinary supervision for the near future and will need follow-up visits to ensure a healthy recovery. It is not known at this time when he will be available for adoption.
Our loyal friends at Petsecure Pet Health Insurance* were so inspired by Wilfred’s story that they are matching up to $3,500 in donations towards his care and other animals who need urgent medical help.
*Supported by a grant from Definity Insurance Foundation with funding from the Definity Insurance Company.