Sixteen filthy and matted dogs and two horses have been seized from a rural property in Clearwater, B.C., in what’s being called a “very disturbing” case of animal cruelty.
Another two dead dogs and a deceased calf were also found on the property.
The dogs, mostly standard poodle and golden retriever crosses, were “badly neglected, filthy and severely matted,” and living in “unacceptable conditions,” said BC SPCA Senior Animal Protection Officer Kent Kokoska.
The horses were also matted and have cracked and chipped hooves, he added.
The animal welfare agency is pushing for cruelty charges against the animals’ owners.
The dogs are currently recovering at facilities in Penticton and Kelowna, and the horses are in Kamloops.
The BC SPCA responds to more than 7,000 animal cruelty complaints each year.
