A litter of puppies, two of whom appear to have bullet wounds, have been found abandoned in a rural area between Grand Forks and Greenwood.
Katie Brown, vice president of the Nelson-based Kootenay Animal Assistance Program (KAAP), said the dogs were discovered March 28 on Crown land by a person who turned them in on April. 1.
The litter includes four males and two females. One of the dogs has a wound from an embedded collar, while two others have what a veterinarian believes are bullet wounds.
Brown said she’s never seen an abandoned litter in a state like this in her 16 years with KAAP.
“Unfortunately it’s not the first time that we have had puppies found in the Grand Forks area, in the bush. I don’t think that there’s a lot of options for people in that area. There is no SPCA. There is no dog rescue there. So I feel like people maybe feel like they don’t have options in the Grand Forks, Rock Creek area.”
The dogs are believed to be between five- and six-months-old. Brown said they have already received a vaccination, and will also be spayed and neutered. The two dogs with bullet wounds will undergo exploratory surgery this week to remove what Brown said feels like pellets lodged under their skin.
Brown speculated the puppies may have been abandoned due to the owner not being able to find them permanent homes. Grand Forks has the Boundary Helping Hands Feline Rescue Society, but nothing for dogs. The nearest BC SPCA location is in Castlegar.
KAAP meanwhile serves Nelson to Trail, but will provided assistance in the Boundary if needed.
“My assumption is it’s desperation, maybe not knowing if there’s any local resources around that would take the puppies, or lack of knowledge about rescues that are close by.”
The dogs are currently being cared for by three foster homes. Brown said although they arrived scared and not socialized, three of the dogs have improved to a condition where they are ready to be adopted.
Brown hopes the owner reaches out to KAAP. The puppies’ mother, she says, likely needs help as well.
“I’m worried that she’s going to get pregnant again and what’s going to happen to the next litter. If the people who own the mother would reach out to us, there are options to get her fixed and we would be happy to help get her fixed so she doesn’t continue to just have litter after litter and then this happens again down the road.”
To adopt one of the available puppies, or to make a donation to KAAP to help cover the dogs’ medical expenses, visit kaap.ca.
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