Photo courtesy of the Alberta SPCA website.
In April, the Alberta SPCA was called to assist the RCMP during a property investigation in Mountain View County.
The investigation resulted in the recovery of stolen property and the seizure of 82 animals, including dogs, sheep, llamas, chickens, and geese.
The animals were medically assessed and treated.
Of the 82 animals, 50 small-breed dogs were transferred to the Edmonton Humane Society for ongoing care and behavioural assessments. All have been or will be put up for adoption.
Five medium-sized dogs were placed with other SPCA partners for rehoming.
However, an SPCA team member took a special interest in the smallest puppy from the group, Poppy, a Biewer Terrier cross that weighed 3.5 lbs., and looked even smaller, due to skin issues and hair loss.
After a vet examination, Poppy was estimated to be about five months old.
Poppy was adopted by the team member and now spends her days visiting the office, playing with her favourite stuffed squirrel toy that is almost as big as her.
“Every seizure conducted by Alberta SPCA Peace Officers is unique, they all tug on the heartstrings of our staff members. It’s emotionally taxing to see animals in distress, and the process of removing them and assessing their health and welfare is arduous. Unfortunately, sometimes, the outcomes for the animals are not ideal due to the severe neglect they’ve endured,” the SPCA website said “That’s why our team celebrates the cases where we are able to move the animals along to better circumstances. For all 82 animals in this case, their stay with us was just a part of their life journey.”
**With information provided by the Alberta SPCA.