B.C. dog found starving, emaciated

The owner of a dog found emaciated and near death in Maple Ridge, B.C., last week should be charged with animal cruelty, the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.

The golden retriever was brought to the SPCA last Sunday by a member of the public who found him wandering along Dewdney Trunk Road, covered in feces and urine.

"By the look of him, he's obviously been very, very undernourished. He hasn't been fed for a long time," said Mark Vosper with the Maple Ridge SPCA.

"He had a very matted coat. We had to shave his coat — it was absolutely stinking. He must have been left in his own mess, his own feces and urine, for such a long time. He had no body mass at all, he was skin and bone."

Vosper said the dog, whom staff at the SPCA named Trooper, is believed to be about one year old.

When he was brought in, Trooper weighed just over 10 kilograms — about one-third the ideal weight for his breed.

Vosper said Trooper has already gained more than one kilogram and is on a special diet, eating six small meals each day.

The SPCA has not released the name of the owner or revealed how the owner was located, but officials say they are recommending charges to Crown counsel.

Trooper visits a veterinarian for daily checkups and is expected to make a full recovery.

Trooper's condition moved staff to tears

Despite the hardships Trooper has faced, Vosper said he is a lively dog that loves to play.

"He loves being around people. He loves affection. He loves treats. He likes everything that any other dog would like, but obviously he's a special case. Everyone's just fallen in love with Trooper."

Vosper said Trooper's story has touched everyone at the SPCA.

"The staff were moved to tears. Everyone that's come through so far have just been moved to tears. We have staff here who have been working here for around 30 years … and Trooper is the worst body condition they've seen on a dog," he said.

'It's pretty gruesome,' says SPCA visitor

Vosper said it will take about three months before Trooper is healthy enough to be placed in a good home. For the time being, he's being cared for in a foster home.

He said cases like this are always hard to understand.

"Who would want to do this? Who in their right mind would want to do this?"

Visitors to the Maple Ridge SPCA on Saturday said they couldn't understand it either.

"It makes me feel like people shouldn't adopt dogs if they can't handle them," said teenager Taylor Bradshaw. "It's sad."

Her dad, Bill Bradshaw, said Trooper's condition was shocking.

"It's pretty gruesome. I'm just speechless," he said.