A dozen puppies were found in boxes, abandoned on the side of the road in Niagara Region.
The Niagara Region SPCA and Humane Society Animal Services Team said they were notified of two boxes of eight-week-old puppies along the side of the road last Wednesday afternoon.
One of their officers drove immediately to find them and brought the puppies back to their shelter, which was already over capacity, the SPCA said.
The SPCA did not say where exactly the puppies were found, or share what breed they are. The circumstances surrounding their abandonment are also unclear at this time. CTV News contacted the Niagara SPCA for comment.
“When they arrived at the shelter, the puppies were frightened, covered in dirt and their own waste, and some were wearing makeshift rope collars,” the SPCA said in a news release issued Tuesday.
The SPCA bathed all of the puppies, administered their first vaccinations, conducted parasite treatments and full veterinary assessments. The SPCA adds that they were put into clean enclosures with soft blankets, food and water.
“These puppies didn’t choose how their story began, but together with our community, we’ll make sure it ends with safety, love, and a forever family,” Amelia Canto, CEO of the Niagara SPCA, said in a news release.
In the upcoming weeks, the SPCA says they will continue to care for these puppies and spay or neuter them as soon as they are old enough.
Canto says they understand life circumstances can change, but ask pet owners to give them a call first if they find they are no longer capable of caring for their furry friends.
“There are always safer and more humane options than abandonment. One phone call can save lives,” Canto said.
This is the second time in recent weeks that puppies were found abandoned, as nearly a dozen puppies were rescued from a cardboard box in Brantford, Ont. earlier this week.
Eleven puppies, believed to be a bully breed, between one and two days old were found on a trail on Monday morning.
“There is no excuse for dumping puppies,” Hillside Kennels Animal Control said online. “We worry about the mom who may be worried where they have gone or that she may have passed away.”
With files from CTV News Kitchener’s Shelby Knox
