The BC SPCA is recommending animal cruelty charges to Crown Counsel after finding a “heartbreaking sight.”
On Nov. 18, an animal protection officer responded to concerns of animal cruelty near a remote property east of Prince Rupert and found a heavily-matted dog lying in the snow. After discussing the dog’s condition, the owner surrendered the seven-year-old poodle mix to the SPCA.
Aside from being almost unrecognizable, the dog was also shivering in the cold and unable to put any weight on her left rear leg.
“The snow around the dog had turned brown because of how dirty her fur was,” said Alex Schare, regional manager, animal protection services, north region.
“It was obvious that her basic needs had not been met in quite some time—we don’t know when the last time she saw a groomer was, but it had clearly not been for a very long time.”
The dog was brought to the BC SPCA in Prince Rupert and was seen by a veterinarian.
BC SPCA manager, Kristy Maier, said the dog, now named Pixie, had to be sedated to remove all the matted fur.
“It was so bad that it took two hours to carefully remove it all,” she said. “Her fur was full of dirt, feces and urine—I honestly can’t imagine how uncomfortable she was wearing all that filth.”
Pixie’s left leg was also X-rayed, which showed no tendons above the knee due to an old injury to the leg that did not heal properly, according to Maier. Surgery will be required to remove the leg.
Maier added that despite the circumstances, Pixie was still friendly the moment she arrived at the animal centre.
“She loves people and all the attention she has been getting,” she said. “She wants to be with our staff all the time, demanding snuggles, and Pixie even kept falling asleep in the purse of one of our staff members—it was the cutest thing.”
Pixie is now in the care of a BC SPCA foster to recover, and Maier is hopeful that she will be available for adoption by mid-December.
In the meantime, the BC Prosecution Service will evaluate the case.
Several offences related to animal cruelty are listed in the Criminal Code of Canada and are punishable by fines and/or jail time with ancillary orders, including prohibitions on keeping animals in the future.