One of the seized German shepherds in a kennel near Prince George.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC SPCA
August 01, 2024 - 12:30 PM
Animal protection officers seized 43 German shepherds from an abusive breeder southeast of Prince George.
BC SPCA officers took 31 adult shepherds and 12 puppies from an irresponsible breeder, according to a release from Aug. 1.
“The conditions these dogs were living in were horrible,” the BC SPCA’s chief of protection and outreach services Marcie Moriarty said in the release. “The plywood floors in their outdoor kennels were soaked with urine and there were piles of feces. The stench was overwhelming.”
Moriarty said the dogs showed signs of distress, circling and weaving inside the kennels and bashing their muzzles into the walls.
“When our animal protection officers entered their kennels, the dogs were so paralyzed with fear that some just cowered in the back corner, staring into the wall. It was heartbreaking,” Moriarty said.
When the protection officers lifted the dogs into crates for transport they realized how underweight the animals were.
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“Their body condition scores range from a three to as low as a one out of nine,” she says. “An ideal score would be five."
Officers saw water in the kennels, but no food.
The 12 puppies are between one week and nine months old. The youngest pups were found in a dark basement with their mom in a plastic pool with paper towel as bedding. BC SPCA found another dog with her pups in a confined space with high ammonia levels to the point that officers were physically uncomfortable.
One of the seized mother shepherds in the plastic pool in a basement near Prince George.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC SPCA
The dogs are currently at the BC SPCA’s North Cariboo animal shelter. Many of the older dogs have stiff, arthritic joints, damaged teeth, painful stomach issues, or visible wounds.
BC SPCA is unsure of when the dogs will be up for adoption since the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who wants to help these dogs or other animals at the BC SPCA can click here to donate.
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