Animal protection officers have removed 63 neglected dogs from a Fraser Valley property claiming to be a rescue organization.
Officers from the BC SPCA found the dogs in “substandard conditions” in a garage and various rooms inside a Mission, B.C., home, according to a press release.
“Some of the issues involved unsanitary conditions, overcrowding and high ammonia levels from urine,” said Eileen Drever, the BC SPCA's senior officer of protection and stakeholder relations, in a written statement.
Veterinarians examined more than five dozen dogs, raising concerns they suffered from a range of medical and behavioural welfare problems.
Drever said there are many reputable rescue organizations in B.C., and that BC SPCA supports their work.
“However,” she added, “in cases where an individual or group causes or allows animals to be in distress, we have to ensure that these animals are protected and receive the care that they urgently need.”
The dogs are now being cared for at various SPCA locations while the investigation continues. Anyone looking to help the neglected dogs can donate on the , the group says.
