Les huskies sont arrivés à la Spca

[Animal 0]

The Montreal Gazette, July 11, 2006

"NO MORE WOOD BOXES OR CHAINS FOR THESE DOGS. THEIR HARD TIMES ARE OVER"

Kate Lunau

Twenty huskies found starving at a kennel in Entrelacs last month arrived at
the Montreal SPCA yesterday, where they'll stay until they can be placed in
permanent homes.

"There will be no more wood boxes or chains for these dogs. Their hard times
re over," said SPCA executive director Pierre Barnotti, adding the dogs are
now in reasonably good health.

The dogs, originally 26 in number, were discovered June 13 clinging to life
in an Entrelacs kennel.

They have since been staying with their rescuers,Eric Lefrançois, Karine
Latimer and Guy Racicot, who nursed them back to health. The three operate
K-9 Expeditions, a dogsledding company in St. Jean de Matha, 80 kilometres
northeast of Montreal.

Since the rescue, three huskies have been adopted; one has died; one ran
away; and one, named Thunder, was given to Lefrançois to keep.

A Joliette court awarded the 20 remaining dogs to the SPCA last week in
accordance with the wishes of the dogs' owner, Laurent Wilhem.

According to Barnotti, the SPCA is fully equipped to deal with the 20 large,
active huskies, a breed that needs plenty of open space.

"We have an enclosed run outside, with a protected roofed area, for their
use," Barnotti said.

Vets, groomers and volunteers are on-hand to care for the dogs, who will be
placed in foster homes. After complete rehabilitation and evaluation, the
huskies will eventually be adopted by appropriate families.

Barnotti said those interested in adopting a husky must be familiar with the
breed's specific needs.

"These are very people-friendly dogs," Barnotti said. "But huskies need to
spend a lot of time outside. They have a lot of energy to burn."

According to Barnotti, none of the resuced huskies should face euthanasia.

"I don't remember the last time we had to put down a dog we seized from an
inappropriate owner." Barnotti said.

The SPCA only euthanizes animals on humanitarian grounds, or those that are
aggressive and dangerous,he added.

Lefrançois, meanwhile, was sorry to see the huskies leave his kennel, where
they styed for almost a month with the 90 dogs he regularly keeps.

"They were just starting to settle in here," he said. "They seemed happy."

According to Lefrançois, the dogs' health has dramtically improved since
their rescue. Not only have they become more playful and put on weight, all
of them also received veterinary attention. The cost of their care was
covered by the $4,200 in donations Lefrançois received.

"I'm sad to see them go. I'll be closely following what heppens to them at
the SPCA," he said.

SPCA vets, groomers and other experts will begin a thorough examination and
treatment of the huskies today, Barnotti said.

Adopting a dog at the SPCA generally costs $180. As these huskies re a
particular case, decisions on their adoption may vary from dog to dog.