West Vancouver SPCA investigators are looking for the person who left a badly emaciated dog abandoned at an Ambleside pet food store.
The owner of Cute Paws Pet Food and Supplies noticed the rail-thin border collie tied up to a shelving unit around noon on Feb. 18.
“They kept waiting for someone to come back for him and no one did so they ended up bringing him into the shelter,” said Dragana Hajdukovic, branch manager of the West Vancouver SPCA.
“At this point in time we’re looking for the owners for information and an explanation.”
Investigators canvassed to see if there was any surveillance video of someone walking the dog in the neighbourhood earlier that day but had no luck. Now they’re hoping a tip from the public can help them find the six-year-old dog’s former owner. Only then will they be able to determine if this is a case of animal cruelty. A Coquitlam man is currently facing two charges of animal cruelty, which carries potential jail time and a fine of $75,000 if found guilty, after his husky Willow was found starving and wandering Maple Ridge in 2015.
SPCA staff have since re-named the poor pup Louis and are getting along with him swimmingly.
“(Louis) is emaciated but he’s a complete sweetheart and becoming a favourite of all the staff and volunteers in the few days that he has been with us,” Hajdukovic said. “If no one comes forward, once he has been rehabilitated and he is cleared medically, he will be looking for a home.”
That could take weeks though as Louis has a lot of recovering to do from his fragile state, Hajdukovic said.
“He’s getting stronger, for sure, with every day that he’s been with us. When he first came in, he had trouble even standing up or walking for longer distances. We’re definitely seeing that tail wag more and more with each passing day, which is a really great thing to see,” Hajdukovic said.
If someone is unable to care for their pet, they should contact the SPCA right away to see about surrendering it for adoption, Hajdukovic said.
“No dog should be left in this state,” she said.
Anyone with information about Louis or his owner is asked to contact BC SPCA’s animal cruelty hotline at 1-855-622-7722.
