Veterinarians of the BC SPCA worked into the night on Friday performing an emergency surgery on a badly neglected dog left tied to the organization's door.
At around 5 p.m. SPCA workers discovered the Maltese-poodle mix who was suffering significant pain caused by a large tumour growing on the side of her head. The abandoned dog, estimated as being six-years-old, also had an ulcer in one eye, a broken tooth, overgrown nails and matted fur.
"She was tied with a leash just wrapped around her neck, not a collar, nothing, hooked up to the door," regional animal welfare supervisor Kim Monteith told CTV News. "She wasn't in good shape. It was disgusting."
The dog, newly named "Holly" by SPCA volunteers, was found near closing time, but veterinary staff stayed several hours later to successfully remove the massive lump from the animal. She has also been given a hair cut and had her nails trimmed. Monteith described the dog as "very, very sweet."
The BC SPCA is now asking for help finding the owner of the neglected animal.
"We really want to find out: Why was she left this long in that condition? She was in pain. Why were her nails that way?" Monteith told CTV News.
"Good thing they brought her to us; however, we need to talk to them about that," she added.
Monteith also said this dog's case is a reminder that people need to factor the medical and grooming costs of having a pet into their budget before getting one.
"Just saying that, ‘Oh, I didn't have the money to do it,' it's not fair to the dog. It's not fair at all," she said.
