With his tail wagging, Bode the German shepherd cross greets visitors entering the Squamish SPCA branch. He's got a lot to wag about.
Just three weeks ago a good Samaritan brought Bode to the shelter. The three-year-old dog's teeth were broken, bites and scars criss-crossed his face, his ear was ripped and he walked with a limp because of a broken hind leg that had never been treated.
Despite all the signs of abuse and being tethered for most of his life, Bode was extremely affectionate. And SPCA branch manager Marika Donnelly was determined to make his life better.
That meant hefty veterinary bills, as Bode faced a possible amputation. Then the dog's story went viral online. Last week people from across North America sent in a little over $7,000 to aid Bode's recovery.
It's been incredible, Donnelly said. We really needed that boost here.
Medical expenses make up the largest chunk of the branch's bills and this year has been particularly busy. It started with Rudy the cat, who needed her leg amputated. Then there's Sasha, another German shepherd, who suffers from the lifelong disease perineal fistula, a disorder that comes with ongoing costs. Any money left over from Bode's treatment will go toward other animals' medical expenses.
It's never enough, Donnelly said.
The $130 fee that comes with adopting a kitten barely covers the money put into the pet, she said. Before heading off to their new homes, animals in the SPCA are spayed or neutered, implanted with a chip, vaccinated, de-wormed and treated for fleas.
Bode had his final surgery last week. The good news is he kept his leg. He'll be kept in the branch's care during his recovery before finding a new owner.
There's been a few inquiries about him, she said of the shelter's now-famous dog.
To donate to animals in the SPCA's care call (604) 898-9890 or go online to www.spca.bc.ca and look up the Squamish branch. You can also mail cheques to Squamish Valley SPCA, PO Box 659, Garibaldi Highlands, B.C., V0N 1T0 or in person at the branch.
