Seizure of 82 animals from Mountain View County Involved a Large Number of Animals, and One Tiny Dog.
Poppy was definitely the smallest of the bunch when she came into our care. The Biewer terrier cross only weighed three-and-a-half pounds, and due to skin issues and hair loss, looked even smaller than that. Our team pegged her to be about two months old when they first saw her, only to learn during a vet examination that Poppy was probably five months old.
The puppy was one of 82 animals removed from a property in Mountain View County in late April. The number included 56 mostly small breed dogs, llamas, sheep, chickens and geese. Each of the animals had its own story, but it was easy to gravitate towards Poppy due to her big brown eyes and tiny, fragile body.
While 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. And unfortunately, sometimes, the outcomes for the animals are not ideal due to the severe neglect they’ve endured.
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.
Fifty small breed dogs from this investigation were eventually transferred to our sheltering partner, the Edmonton Humane Society, for ongoing care and behavioural assessments. All have been or will be put up for adoption. There were five medium-sized dogs as well, which we were able to place with other partners for rehoming.
And then there’s Poppy. She was adopted by one of our staff members and comes to the office most days where she bounces up and down the hallways while tearing into her favourite toy, a stuffed squirrel that’s almost as big as she is. Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, along with the hard work of our staff, Poppy and the others from this seizure can now enjoy a life of love and comfort. Thank you!
