The Cowichan SPCA are appealing to the public for help in financing the veterinary care of a dog that came into their custody the evening of Nov. 25.
The animal, named Aslan, is possibly a stray and at a mere one year old is about 50 pounds underweight.
He’s under critical care at Central Cowichan Animal Hospital.
SPCA manager Sandi Trent said the cost to treat the animal is beyond the group’s means.
“What we’re looking for is help financially,” she said.
“The dog is skeletal, in short. He is unable to maintain his body temperature, is so weak he can’t stand on his own.”
The dog is on an IV and his prognosis is guarded.
“He was basically impacted with stool and they were able to get that out and it was plastic and wood and birdseed, that’s what he’d been eating,” Trent said, adding the vet bills are going to be “just beyond belief.”
The animal was recovered from Ladysmith.
“Our investigations department, obviously, is looking for the owner but right now we’re just concerned with trying to help him out here,” Trent said.