Highway puppies among winter cases straining Sask. animal shelters

Saskatchewan’s animal shelters are dealing with an influx of cold critters as the province remains caught under an arctic air mass that’s caused temperatures to plummet.

The Prince Albert SPCA reported Thursday a box with seven puppies in it was found by the highway near Spruce Home. It appeared the dogs were found before they were hurt.

Lindsay Royale, public relations co-ordinator with the Saskatoon SPCA, told 650 CKOM’s David Kirton the cold weather has already led to several heartbreaking situations this winter.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls about animals being left outside,” Royale said.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of animals coming in with frostbite. So we’re looking at amputations, extra medical costs associated with that.”

Royale urged people to bring their pets in from the cold or ensure they have a properly insulated shelter.

She also encouraged people to give the hoods of their vehicles a tap or two in the morning before driving, in order to rouse any cats who may have crawled up by the block heater.

Royale said people can always bring animals to the shelter rather than abandoning them.