Doomed dog prompts $20K in donations to SPCA
A starving dog found off an embankment along Postill Road is making a good recovery at the Kelowna SPCA.
The dachshund, covered in feces and urine, was discovered tied inside a pet carrier by a mountain biker. It was emaciated, dehydrated, anemic, and had a puncture wound through the upper lip, likely by trying to bite his way out of the carrier.
“It really is a miracle that the dog was found,” says Shannon Paille, manager of the Kelowna SPCA branch. “I’m not sure how much longer the dog would have survived in the cold and wet, given the condition he was in. It was obvious he had been down there for quite some time.”
“The Good Samaritan and his partner were so sad when they brought him in. The dog’s eyes were so sad. He looked like he had lost hope,” Paille said.
Named Wilfred by SPCA staff, the dog’s wounds were treated by a vet, and he has been put on a refeeding plan to help him safely regain weight. Wilfred is now in the care of a SPCA foster home.
Wilfred has a microchip, but it wasn’t activated, and efforts to find its owner have so far been unsuccessful. He’ll need follow-up vet visits, and it isn’t known when he will be available for adoption.
All of Wilfred’s care costs have been covered by the SPCA, with a matching donation from Petsecure Pet Health Insurance. The BC SPCA accepts donations at medical.spca.bc.ca
Wilfred’s heartbreaking story, apparently one of wilful and cruel abandonment, has clearly resonated with people.
As of Thursday morning, 325 separate donations totalling $21,473 have been made specifically for the ‘Medical Emergency Fund for Wilfred’, the SPCA says.
The next highest donation total for the 10 other animals featured on the page is $2,480 for a Golden Retriever who needs shoulder surgery.
When donations made in the name of a specific animal exceed the actual cost of his care and treatment, the SPCA says the surplus is put toward helping other animals.