Man faces animal cruelty charges after dogs found almost starved to death

CANADA -- The B.C. SPCA says animal cruelty charges are pending against a Vancouver Island man after his two terrier-cross puppies were found almost starved to death and chained up outside in sub-zero temperatures at a property outside Ladysmith.

On Nov. 10, a concerned neighbour called the organization after noticing the "severely emaciated" two male puppies, which were only a few months old and tied up inside a muddy plastic doghouse with no food, water, insulation or bedding.

"They were huddled together trying to keep warm, they were cold and wet and filthy they had feces and urine throughout their coats, which were matted," said senior B.C. SPCA animal protection officer Tina Heary. "The second one was so weak that he could barely stand and take a couple of steps - he was wobbly.

“It's just really tragic that this still happens, when there are so many resources available.”

The pair – named Casey and Finnegan - was “absolutely crawling with fleas,” which "can become a huge health risk" to animals in such a weakened state, Heary said.

The specks visible in their coats are the flea feces, which contain some of the blood sucked from the puppies, Heary said.

"When we bathed them it made a blood bath,” Heary said.

Now, the ravenous puppies are in foster care, gaining weight and becoming healthier, she added.

As for their owner, he will soon have two charges of animal cruelty recommend by the SPCA, Heary said. Their owner showed "a sense of disregard” toward the dogs and their future when an officer showed up at the "somewhat rural” property to rescue the puppies, she added.

(Vancouver Sun - Nov 17, 2014)