The Nanaimo SPCA seeks donations for the medical bills of four Chinese crested dogs and three Peterbald cats surrendered in an animal cruelty investigation.
The society’s aim is to protect and enhance the quality of life for animals but with a monthly medical budget of $5,700 and more than 100 kittens in the Labieux Road shelter’s care and a number of puppies requiring to be tube fed, Nanaimo SPCA manager Leon Davis said the costs associated with the seven animals is prohibitive.
“The Peterbald cats, those hair-less cats that cost $1,500 when you buy them from breeders, we have these three and they have $700 bills apiece. Their teeth are so rotten that full mouth extractions are needed for all three cats,” Davis said.
The Nanaimo SPCA manager said the situation is worse with the dogs as they not only have dental issues but two have luxating patellas, which he said is an issue with the knee cap popping out, and requires “delicate surgery of the tendons.” Paying for surgery for the cruelty investigation animals wouldn’t allow the society to help other animals.
“One of the dogs’ [bill] is $1,400 I believe and the other ones are about $800 [apiece] and then of course, you get flea checks and things down the road and taking them back in and making sure everything’s OK,” Davis said.
The animals will be available for adoption, but the Nanaimo SPCA wants to ensure that they are all healthy before people take them home. Any donations will be welcome.
“We’re hoping to raise $6,000 for the care of these animals. We haven’t appealed to the public for a long time. We’ve been running quite well and donations have been great, but this is just something unanticipated,” said Davis.
“If we raise over the $6,000 there’s certainly been a lot of cruelty investigations this year and I already have a bunch of other animals waiting,” he said.
Donations can be made online at spca.bc.ca/nanaimo, calling 250-758-8444, or dropping by the shelter at 2200 Labieux Rd. in Nanaimo – tax receipts will be available.
Davis said updates on the Chinese crested dogs and the Peterbald cats will be provided on the Nanaimo SPCA’s Facebook page.