The BC SPCA is caring for a dog that was found with gunshot wounds after being abandoned by its owner in a small community in the southern interior of the province.
The animal welfare organization said Rose and her brother were left alone for more than a week after their owner was evicted from their home in Beaverdell, an unincorporated one-hour drive from Kelowna.
“The owner found out about them, but waited to see if the owner would return,” Sean Hogan, manager of the Kelowna SPCA branch, said in a press release. “Unfortunately, he never did.”
Authorities said a recent storm scared the dogs and made them run into the woods. Rose later returned with severe injuries that the SPCA described as “severe, infected, necrotic,” including wounds to her face and neck.
“We immediately took her to an emergency veterinary hospital where they made her more comfortable and began treating her wounds. While treating the wounds, they discovered that there were scattered pellets and determined that she had been shot.” dir Hogan.
The dog has had to undergo various surgeries, and may require more, according to the SPCA. Meanwhile, she is said to be taking painkillers, antibiotics and fluids, while her care is less than 24 hours which involves multiple daily bandage changes.
Despite all that has happened, the SPCA described the bitch as “as loving and affectionate as she can be.”
“Everyone in the hospital has fallen in love with her and can’t believe that after being shot, she can rely on them to help and care for her,” Hogan said in the note.
The SPCA said it will be a long time before the dog is healthy enough for adoption, but staff expect it to fully recover.