The Alberta SPCA confirmed last week that it has an ìopen investigationî into concerns about a great Pyrenees dog found living in a car in Olds earlier this month.
Roland Lines, a spokesman for the organization, said the SPCA received an email outlining concerns about the dog on Jan. 6
ìIt was concerns about the living conditions for this dog,î he said. ìThat the dog was living in a vehicle.î
Lines added concerns were also raised about cats living in the car.
Iris Nunns, the owner of the vehicle, told the Olds Albertan she was living with friends in the Eagle Hill area and decided to head to British Columbia in late December to escape the Alberta winter with her dog, named Solei, and two cats.
She said she encountered a number of problems, however, including her car dying, and ended up living in her car for roughly two weeks.
On Jan. 3, a group of people, out of concern for the dog's welfare, took Solei from the vehicle.
The people who took the dog said they offered to help Nunns find accommodation in the area and persuaded her to allow them to bring Solei to a veterinarian for assessment and care, although Nunns said she felt pressured into allowing the group to take the dog.
Dr. Curtis Luzi, a veterinarian at the Olds Pioneer Veterinary Centre, examined Solei and found her to be dehydrated and ìtremendously underweight.î
Nunns, who told the Albertan she is currently living with friends in the area, said Solei's condition was the result of her escaping in early December and living for roughly 10 days outside in the extreme cold.
Sundre firefighters rescued Solei from the Red Deer River before Christmas.
According to a Facebook page entitled ìSolei's Rescue,î the dog was still in the possession of one of the people who took her from the car as of Jan. 26.
That person has said she will not return the dog to Nunns and will care for Solei until a veterinarian deems her ready for adoption.
Lines said he could not discuss details about the SPCA's investigation, but did confirm the SPCA had received a call regarding Nunns and the animals in her car from the Olds RCMP.
Staff Sgt. Joe Sangster, commander of the Olds RCMP detachment, said police first received a complaint about Nunns living in her vehicle on Dec. 31 and altogether, police received four calls regarding a ìsuspicious vehicleî in the area.
ìShe was checked each time and no concerns,î he said, adding members did see animals in Nunns' vehicle. ìShe didn't need any help. She had money, she had food, she had fuel in her vehicle and she didn't want any help.î
Lines said in general, the SPCA has the power to lay charges under the province's Animal Protection Act if investigators find any evidence of intentional wrongdoing towards an animal.
"She didn't need any help. She had money, she had food, she had fuel in her vehicle and she didn't want any help."Sgt. Joe SangsterOlds RCMP
