Dog found emaciated in Richmond now receiving care

The BC SPCA says a bulldog discovered starving on a trail in Richmond earlier this month is on the path to recovery.

The society says a jogger was running along a trail near McNair Secondary School on April 2 when he noticed a dog who appeared malnourished.

The dog was trailing behind and would stop and stare when the jogger came to a stop.

“When he got a closer look, he noticed that the dog was skin and bones, which concerned him. He approached the dog and was able to coax him into his car,” said Eileen Drever, senior officer of protection and stakeholder relations with the BC SPCA.

While waiting for the BC SPCA Richmond animal centre to open, the jogger bought the dog a rotisserie chicken and a collar.

Drever says the dog is lucky to be alive. 

Without identification, he was placed in a BC SPCA foster home and began a veterinarian-supervised feeding plan to help him gain weight. 

Drever says the checkup for the male pit bull-English bulldog mix went well, but “he’s not out of the woods yet” and needs to gain more weight. 

He is reportedly not adding pounds as quickly as the BC SPCA hoped. 

“He’s on a strict diet. We have to introduce him to food slowly and more frequently,” said Drever. 

The organization says that prior to being rescued, the dog was suffering from starvation and arthritis in his front legs. 

His new foster family describes him as “loving” and “affectionate,” despite everything he has been through.