Dozens of neglected dogs rescued from rural property, BC SPCA says

The BC SPCA says it has rescued 27 severely neglected dogs and one cat from a rural property in the Kootenays.

The organization says it made the seizures Oct. 7 after an investigation involving irresponsible breeding and neglect.

“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,” said Matt Affleck, the regional manager of cruelty investigations for the 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.”

As well, Affleck says, most of the animals have tested positive for parasites like coccidia and Giardia, which may mean they were regularly drinking from an algae-covered pond.

The dogs were French bulldogs, Boston terriers, heelers, Kangal shepherds, and a number of mixed-breeds.

Twelve puppies — ranging in age from eight weeks to seven months — were among those seized. Puppies are especially susceptible to parasites, the SPCA says, due to their underdeveloped immune systems.

“Some of the puppies had severely distended stomachs because of a very serious worm infection,” Affleck said.

“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 says it is extremely rare for dogs to require this type of deworming.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

The animals were initially very fearful when they first arrived but are starting to let their guards down, Affleck says.

Due to an ongoing investigation, the SPCA says the animals aren’t currently up for adoption, and it isn’t known when they will be.

This isn’t the organization’s only mass seizure of neglected animals in recent months. In September, several cats were seized after being found sick alongside multiple dead animals in a Surrey trailer.