16 dogs, two horses seized by SPCA in rural Clearwater

NEWS — SPCA special constables have seized 16 dogs — mostly standard poodle and golden retriever crosses — and two quarter horses from a rural property in Clearwater.

Const. Kent Kokoska, senior animal protection officer with the B.C. SPCA, said today the badly neglected dogs were filthy and severely matted and were living in unacceptable conditions.

The horses were also being kept in substandard conditions and were severely matted, with cracked and chipped hooves, he said. Two dead dogs and a dead calf were also found on the property.

“We are grateful to the Clearwater RCMP for bringing this case to our attention,” said Kokoska.

“Our 26 SPCA constables have extensive areas to cover across B.C. and we respond to more than 7,000 complaints of animal cruelty each year, so it is very helpful for us to have the support of communities in reporting cases of suspected abuse or neglect.”

Kokoska called the level of neglect of the seized animals “very disturbing.” He said the investigation is continuing and charges of animal cruelty are pending.

The dogs are being cared for at SPCA animal centres in Penticton and Kelowna and the horses are being cared for in Kamloops. The animals are currently not up for adoption, but Kokoska said the B.C. SPCA website at spca.bc.ca will carry updates.