Vancouver Island breeder surrenders 21 French bulldogs and pugs; 13 servals seized near Kamloops

VANCOUVER ISLAND (NEWS 1130) — Twenty-one french bulldog and pug puppies and dogs — many of them sick — are now safe in the care of the BC SPCA after they were surrendered by a Vancouver Island breeder.

The dogs are between six weeks and six years old and all of them have skin issues. Several dogs are sick and may need surgery for a multitude of issues, including problems with their mouths and noses, digestive systems, eyes, and teeth. One pup has a badly-infected tail.

According to the BC SPCA, the person who owned the dogs has previously surrendered animals to them.

“The BC SPCA is continuing to advocate for breeder regulations that would outline standards of care for dogs and cats in this largely unregulated industry,” Marcie Moriarty with BC SPCA says in a press release. “We are still waiting on the provincial government to enact these important regulations.”

Right now, the dogs are being cared for at the Comox Valley and District SPCA, the Cowichan and District SPCA and in foster homes. They aren’t up for adoption yet, but if you’re interested you’re asked to email the branches.

13 serval cats seized near Kamloops

Meantime, the BC SCPA will be recommending charges of animal cruelty against a breeder after more than a dozen wild African cats were seized in Little Fort near Kamloops.

The BC SPCA went to investigate after they received complaints of a breeder selling sick and injured animals.

Ten adult servals and three kitten servals were found living in “horrific living conditions,” according to the BC SCPA, with many being kept inside RV trailers that weren’t properly ventilated. The animals apparently did not have access to water, and were exposed to high levels of ammonia as litter boxes were overflowing.

“Serval cats are wild African cats who require extensive space to run and a highly enriched environment to express natural play and hunting behaviours. They are carnivores and require a very specialized diet to meet their physical needs, including proper bone development” Moriarty says. “The idea of these beautiful wild animals being confined in captivity is disturbing enough, but in this case, the animals were kept indoors in substandard conditions, without access to the outdoors or exercise.”

The animals inside the trailers were apparently exposed to high temperatures with the windows covered, so they didn’t have any access to natural light.

“This is a case we see commonly with substandard breeders, where they have a very attractive website and people are unaware of how distressing the actual living conditions are for the animals. All interactions are online and buyers never visit the property,” Moriarty says. “Unfortunately, there are certain people who are drawn to the attention they receive by owning an extic animal, but it is so distressing to see these beautiful wild animals suffering because of people’s desire to have a novelty pet and the breeders who profit from it.”

SPCA also seized two dogs and domestic cat in the raid.