Neglected sled dogs chained up in Laurentians woods
A terrible case of animal abuse in the Laurentians.
The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle and the Humane Society International have rescued about a hundred neglected sled dogs living in deplorable conditions near Mont Tremblant.
(Photo courtesy of Humane Society International)
The yelps and whining seem out of place in such a desolate area with nothing but miles and miles of trees, the stench of urine and feces in the cold air.
And then you see them.
"Lots of dogs, tied on a chain, all day long," says Corinne Gonzalez of the Laurentians SPCA.
She says they were tipped off about the nearly 100 huskies, including about 30 pregnant ones.
Gonzalez estimates they have been living in the middle of the woods near Mont Tremblant for at least a year, chained to posts with nothing but the trees and a makeshift doghouse each for shelter. Some of them had names on the chicken coop-like structures: Scoobe Doo, Everest, Perro.
Animal shelter officials say some of them have been raised in those types of conditions since they were pups. The rescued dogs range in age from a year to ten years.
But despite their fierce look and intimidating barks, they take to to their saviours like crazy.
"It's social animals that are tied to a tree. It's sad," Gonzalez tells CJAD News.
"They're really affectionate dogs."
And that's why Gonzalez says she can't understand how someone could treat them so horribly.
Gonzalez says this is a typical situation since the dogs are used only two months out of the year for the tourist trade.
The owner wasn't able to afford proper care. The SPCA-LL convinced him to hand the dogs over. In exchange for the release of the dogs, he won't be criminally charged or fined, despite the horrendous conditions.
"Even if they're acceptable by criminal code, it doesn't mean they're acceptable by society."
Many of the dogs were malnourished and skinny with skin and eye ailments. A nearby pit appeared to contain decomposing animal remains.
Gonzalez says the dogs and puppies will now be put up for adoption and placed in various shelters in the U.S. and the rest of Canada. They're also appealing to the public for donations to help with the costs of caring for and feeding the dogs.
"This one has a happy ending but we would like to have tougher laws, more inspectors, everything to be able to do something and not so long a process that you need to wait until they're dying."
Liberal MNA Geoff Kelley in charge of the animal welfare task force says they're working on it.
"We have to have very clear conditions on how we can or cannot treat animals so when the inspectors go and find sites like this, it'll be easier for them to apply the law," Kelley tells CJAD News.
And until then, Gonzalez says, be aware.
"I think people are starting to know what puppy mills are but there's other animal businesses and they can hurt animals also."
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