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200 dogs found starving, dehydrated, neglected in southern Alberta

Jan 28, 2015 | 3:16 PM

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) has seized 201 dogs in what it calls one of the worst cases of neglect it has ever seen.

The dogs were all found on a rural property in Milk River, southeast of Lethbridge.

They were starving, dehydrated, with badly matted fur. Some had broken bones, gaping wounds, and severe parasite infections. One of the puppies had a broken jaw. Another was missing a leg.

“We’ve been doing this for almost 10 years and we see a lot of neglect and abuse, but nothing to this scale,” said AARCS executive director Deanna Thompson.

“Quite a few of these animals, they were body-condition scores of one out of five or less, so it’s going to take a long time to put some weight back on them and take care of their medical issues,” she said.

The Alberta SPCA is now investigating. They call it the largest seisure of dogs in the history of the province.

The owner had voluntarily handed over 60 dogs to the SPCA on December 23. Another 141 were removed during a second operation on January 13.

Charges are likely, but have yet to be laid. The owner has missed the 10 day deadline to apply for the dogs’ return.

The animals are a mix of huskies, Irish wolfhounds, malemutes and Komondors. The AARCS said they will be provided with medical care, and spaying/neutering surgeries, then eventually be put up for adoption.

A post on their Facebook page reads, in part, “These dogs still have a long way to go on their road to recovery, but we are optimistic they will all fully recover.”

– With files from Canadian Press

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