The BC SPCA has rescued two severely emaciated terrier-cross puppies who were tethered outdoors in freezing temperatures without food or water. The male puppies, only a few months old, were being kept outside a home near Ladysmith.
“It was heartbreaking to see how these little puppies were being forced to live,” BC SPCA senior animal protection officer Tina Heary said in a press release. “They were outside in the freezing cold, tangled up on tethers, emaciated, filthy, matted and covered in urine. Their only shelter was a plastic doghouse that was wet and muddy inside with no insulation or bedding.”
Heary says the puppies were huddled together, wet and shivering, when they were found.
“One of the puppies was so compromised, he could only take a couple of steps before falling over," she said. "Both were extremely weak, weighing only two to three kilograms each.”
The two puppies, named Casey and Finnegan by SPCA staff, are now in the care of the Nanaimo SPCA and are receiving veterinary treatment and around-the-clock care.
“Thankfully, we were alerted to the situation in time and both Casey and Finnegan are expected to make a full recovery,” said Heary.
The BC SPCA investigation into the case continues, and charges of animal cruelty are pending.
The BC SPCA depends on community donations to fund its cruelty investigations work and would be grateful for any contributions. Donations can be made online here.