Buckshot pellets found in distressed Boston terrier
A lost dog is lucky to be alive after suffering a shooting and a traumatic puppy delivery.

Matthew Claxton
Langley Advance

Friday, October 31, 2008

It's been a rough ride for the Boston terrier now recuperating at the Langley Animal Protection Society shelter.

The small dog, described as "sweet as pie" by LAPS head Sean Baker, almost died alone while attempting to give birth.

As if that wasn't enough, a medical examination showed that someone had shot the dog.

Baker said the dog first appeared on Monday afternoon at about 5 p.m. She waddled into a front yard in the Tall Timbers area of Langley Township and approached a family.

She was obviously in distress, and it soon became clear why: she was in the middle of giving birth. A pup was halfway out of her birth canal.

The family rushed the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment, Baker said.

The vet managed to remove the pup and stabilized the mother. She was then picked up by LAPS and taken to their regular clinic, where a thorough exam found two more pups inside her.

The pups were removed by caesarian section. Unfortunately, all three were dead, and Baker said it is believed that the mother may have been in labour for as long as three to five days before she approached the family.

It was during her exam at the vet's office that something unusual was found on the X-rays, said Baker. The vet pointed out several small white dots to him.

"He said, 'That's buckshot. From a shotgun,'" Baker said.

The shooting injury was quite old and had apparently already healed. One pellet can be felt under the skin on the top of the terrier's head, Baker said.

"Why do people shoot dogs? I don't know," Baker said.

Right now, the terrier is recovering from her most recent ordeal.

She is underweight and was exhausted when found, and she will spend the next 10 days on antibiotics, Baker said. She needs a lot of rest and food, but she is expected to recover.

"She's pretty lucky to be alive," Baker said.

LAPS staff haven't found any indication of the dog's name or ownership. She wasn't wearing a collar, and exams haven't turned up any identifying tattoos or ID chips. No one has called LAPS recently to report a missing Boston terrier. She appears to be a purebred, he said.

All they know about her is that she has given birth at least once before, according to the vet, Baker said.

As of Wednesday, staff at the LAPS shelter in Aldergrove were trying to pick a name for the dog.

Once she is fully recovered, the shelter will try to find her a new home.

© Langley Advance 2008

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