Four dogs abandoned at mall, puppy mill suspected
Nanaimo, BC (CA)Incident Date: Monday, Dec 29, 2008
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Four purebred pugs found under "peculiar circumstances" in December have animal control officers in Nanaimo wondering if a puppy mill for the small dogs in the area is discarding its older breeders in an inhumane way.
Helen Roberts, manager at the Nanaimo Animal Shelter, said two of the pugs were discovered at the Country Club Centre (one on Dec. 13 and another on Dec. 29).
Another was found at the Nanaimo North Town Centre, also on Dec. 29.
Helen Roberts, manager of the Nanaimo Animal Shelter, holds one of four purebred pugs that were discovered at two malls over several days in December.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Helen Roberts, manager of the Nanaimo Animal Shelter, holds one of four purebred pugs that were discovered at two malls over several days in December.
The final pug was discovered by a passerby in December at Country Club who intends to keep it if no one comes forward to claim it.
She said in her more than 20 years as shelter manager, she has never seen a case where purebred pugs picked up by animal control officers were not quickly claimed by their owners.
"The owners are usually frantic to get them back, but that's not the case here," Roberts said.
"The fact that they are all older females that are not spayed with some health problems that have obviously had puppies in the past has led us to believe they may have come from some sort of puppy mill.
"We're just wondering, if the owners of a puppy mill can find homes for pups, why they couldn't find owners for these pugs, especially considering this breed is so nice-tempered. We'd like to remind people that if they see a dog that looks like it's abandoned, give us or the SPCA a call and we'll pick them up."
Roberts said the animals were dirty when they were found, were a little undernourished and in obvious need of exercise, which she believes may be from long periods in dog pens.
Roberts said homes for three of the dogs have already been found and the fourth, who spent Friday at a veterinarian's office, is staying at the pound for the time being. References
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