The Burnaby SPCA is trying to find homes for six sled dogs from Pemberton.
The dogs, all husky mixes, were given up when the company was on longer able to house the animals.
“They lost the property in which the animal were being kept,” said Ryan Voutilainen, branch manager Burnaby SPCA.
According to Voutilainen, the dogs were kept in pens when they weren’t working, and they have dental issues, which may from chewing on rocks or the cages out of boredom or frustration.
“City life is going to be very new to them. It’s something we will be providing support with,” Voutilainen said, adding adoptive owners can expect advice over the phone and visits from SPCA staff if needed.
It’s not uncommon for sled-dog companies to abandon or euthanize their dogs. The 2010 Whistler case is an extreme example of inhumane slaughter: roughly 100 dogs were shot or had their throats slit after a slump in business following the Olympics.
There are now new regulations in B.C., which require sled-dog owners to have an end-of-life plan for their dogs when they go into retirement.
“In this case this person didn’t really have anything set up,” Voutilainen said.
Anyone interested in adopting a sled dog can contact the SPCA by calling 604-291-7201 or visiting the branch at 3202 Norland Ave.
One dog has been adopted already, but six more still need homes.
