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A BC woman whose dog overdosed twice in a month has lost custody of her pet.

According to a recently published Sept. 20 BC Farm Industry Review Board, the dog named Harlow tested positive for cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines when it was seized by the BC SPCA in July.

Harlow's owner Tyler Sydney Lepper appealed to get the dog back but lost.

The decision said Lepper lived in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and first got a visit from the BC SPCA in January 2023 following an anonymous complaint.

The complainant said the dog was living in a filthy apartment with a coat caked in fecal matter and without access to food and water.

However, when the BC SPCA arrived, they found Harlow was healthy, although without water and in a cluttered apartment.

The BC SPCA officer wrote up a ticket to make sure Harlow always had access to water and to clean up the apartment.

More anonymous complaints followed but staff at the apartment building confirmed the dog was healthy, and that Lepper had tidied up her place.

In June, the BC SPCA received a call that Harlow the dog had been frequently left unattended outside the apartment building and had been seen eating unknown substances from the ground.

The decision said the dog had shown signs of drug exposure on three occasions and had overdosed and been given Naloxone.

A month later, Harlow overdosed again and was given Naloxone.

The BC SPCA returned a couple of days later with a search warrant.

"When (the BC SPCA) arrived, Harlow was loose with her leash dragging behind her and Ms. Lepper was sitting approximately 20 feet away. (The BC SPCA)... seized Harlow and took her to a veterinary facility where she was tested and found to be positive for cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines," the decision read.

Further tests also found Harlow also had a dental disease.

Lepper appealed to get her dog back, stating she had got a muzzle to prevent Harlow from eating things from the ground. She said she'd bought a high-pitched whistle collar so she could train him not to lick the ground.

She also testified that the drugs were not hers and had been found on the ground.

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A staff member at the apartment building said Lepper properly provided Harlow with food and water, had seen the dog in a muzzle and used pet outreach for Harlow’s care.

Another friend testified that they'd never seen Lepper abuse Harlow and she loved the dog very much.

However, the BC SPCA staff reported they found the dog unattended and told Lepper she could not leave Harlow alone without adequate supervision because there may be another accidental overdose.

The BC SPCA officer said they responded to 600 calls a year but had only removed five dogs due to repeated drug use.

The Review Board said while Lepper had made "admirable steps" to address the issue returning the dog wasn't an option.

"The plan put forward by (Lepper) would have Harlow returned to high-risk situations of drug exposure due to Harlow’s now ingrained habit of consuming material from the ground in an environment where street drugs are available for her consumption," the Board said. "The likelihood of further overdoses is very high, and as in any set of circumstances where the likelihood of further distress is very high the (Review Board) is obliged to put the interests of the animal above the emotional connection to or reliance on that animal by the (owner)."

The Review Board said that while it acknowledged that Lepper was very emotionally connected to Harlow that can't take priority over the "significant risk" of distress to to the dog.

"The (Review Board) does not find that returning Harlow to the care of (Lepper) would be in Harlow’s best interest due to the very high risk of further distress from potential drug exposures," the decision read.

Ultimately, the Review Board refused to return Harlow and ordered Lepper to pay $1,140 in costs.

Harlow will now be given up for adoption or put down if no one wants her.

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