Dog rehab
Web Posted October 30, 2002 Okanagan's CHBC News

In early July, the Kelowna SPCA carried out the largest animal seizure in its history. 53 malamute/shepherd cross dogs were removed from a rural property near Beaverdell. Some females were pregnant so there are now 72 animals. The Beaverdell dogs have lived at the SPCA’s Kelowna shelter for the last four months.

Two animal behaviour specialists are now assessing every one of the animals. "They haven't seen many people," says Dr. Rebecca Ledger. "They haven't seen buses. They've never been indoors. They don't know what a television is or a normal room. Yet they are well socialized. They are happy to see people." The SPCA says the dogs had very little interaction with humans before they were seized so they need to be "socialized". However there is optimism that most of them will eventually make good pets. "Every animal here will need some degree of rehabilitation," says Dr. Ledger. "But their owners are going to need some advice on how to settle in their dogs when they get them home."

Once the assessments are complete, the SPCA will start looking for homes for the dogs. The SPCA says it notified the original owner of the dogs that it was seeking legal custody of the animals. The Society says it did not hear from the Beaverdell man, so it is claiming ownership of the dogs. Gaston Lapointe is facing animal cruelty charges in court."

After many months of worry over SPCA comments about the health and behaviour of these dogs that seemed to indicate many would be euthanized, is the SPCA finally going to do what it has always claimed it did - animal welfare - not just animal control?

Jennifer Dickson
Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation