Nearly 100 dogs that were taken from a sled dog operator in the Laurentians are being cared for so they can soon be placed in new, loving homes.
The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle picked up the dogs on Tuesday near the town of Brebeuf, north of Mont Tremblant.
The dogs were chained to posts and malnourished. Some of them were blind; 30 of them are pregnant.
"This is unacceptable on anybody's standards," said Scotland Haiseley of the Humane Society International.
"These are dogs that are neglected. In the U.S., this would have been a cruelty case."
The SPCA convinced the owner to surrender the dogs. Yves Kirouac says he gave them up because he was being evicted due to noise complaints.
"I would have loved to be able to do some dog sledding this year, but I have nowhere to put them," Kirouac told CTV News in a telephone interview.
He also insists his dogs were properly fed, and says the reason they're so friendly is because he gave them lots of love.
But veterinarian Dr. Robert Aucoin says the dogs were clearly neglected.
"They're underfed ... they haven't been well treated at all," Aucoin said.
Getting ready for adoption
After receiving medical attention, the dogs will be put up for adoption.
The SPCA is already getting calls from anxious animal lovers.
"Lots of people from around Canada and even the U.S. want to adopt," said Corinne Gonzalez, executive director of the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle.
Gonzalez says they've already found homes for most than half of the dogs, but since 30 of the dogs are pregnant, litters of puppies are on the way.
She also points out that it's expensive to pay for food, vet bills and medicine.
"We need donations to be able to provide the best care, and we do give a lot of care," said Gonzalez.
To make a donation to the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle, visit their website at http://www.spcall.ca/.
