Extreme cold presented extreme challenges to domestic animals and livestock left outside without adequate shelter, and food and water.
The BC SPCA has launched two medical funds for a frostbitten bunny found in Quesnel named Toast, and three kittens—Beans, Charlotte and Sir Hootsalot from Fort St. John.
“It was a rough one this year,” said Quesnel branch manager Colby O’Flynn.
“All the animals were struggling—not just cats and dogs needing to be in a home but feral colonies that are used to surviving on their own and able to stay out of the elements. We’re hearing more and more about them, and taking photos, and they’re missing all of their ears or have injuries to their tail from the cold.”
Extreme cold warnings were issued by Environment Canada in late December as a blast of Arctic air resulted in wind chills of at least -40 C.
Over the Christmas holidays, three separate cats in Quesnel were found suffering from hypothermia and frostbite.
O’Flynn confirmed two of them had to be euthanized due to their amount of suffering, including organ failure, adding it’s rare for animals in Quesnel to die due to cold.
“We can’t say for sure there weren’t other things going on at the same time, but the diagnosis by the vet that they didn’t survive was due to dehydration, extreme cold, hypothermia and frostbite,” she said.
Read More: Extreme cold blankets Cariboo Chilcotin, -35C in Williams Lake
In West Quesnel, dog walkers came across a rabbit with sores on his ears. Unlike a wild one, the rabbit did not run away, instead curiously approaching the walkers, who picked him up.
On Saturday, Jan. 8, the dehydrated and malnourished one-year-old bunny named Toast arrived at the Quesnel branch and was sent for a veterinary exam.
The veterinarian concluded his ears that were covered with pus-filled sores and scabs were frostbitten.
After the vet cleaned Toast’s ears he was prescribed antibiotics and a dietary plan. O’Flynn even divided her office into two sections with a baby gate.
The Quesnel SPCA branch does not have adequate space to house rabbits, which need lots of room to run and jump around.
“Toast was super friendly,” O’Flynn said with a laugh.
“He was a very confident bunny which isn’t what we’re used to seeing when it comes to rabbits. Usually, they’re a bit more fearful.”
O’Flynn said Toast would typically stretch out and lie right near the baby gate, unafraid of any nearby dogs. Because he had gone without food for some time, he would come to guard his bowl whenever it was time to be refilled as he did not want it taken away.
“Of course, he’d be really happy when you brought it back full,” O’Flynn said.
The frostbite to Toast’s ears is severe and had spread, damaging healthy tissue.
Because anesthetics are especially hard on rabbits, Toast needs to regain his strength before having surgery to remove parts of his ears and be neutered.
He was transferred to Squamish on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Read More: Extreme cold weather causes detrimental impacts on birds in B.C.: Wildlife experts
Due to his friendly non-fearful behaviour and excellent litter box use, Toast is believed to have either gotten lost from his owners or was abandoned.
O’Flynn believes many people do not understand the amount of work being a rabbit owner entails and strongly encourages anyone wanting to adopt one to do their research first.
“Just like we receive more complaints in the summer when animals are exposed to extreme heat, we do receive more concerns from people about animals being in the cold,” said Dr. Alex Schare, the BCSCPA regional manager for cruelty investigation for the north region.
“Water, food, and shelter are the concerns we see in the winter.”
While some animals escape or get lost from their homes, others are exposed to the bitter elements due to inappropriate shelter.
Some pet owners also do not realize it is too cold for their pets to be outside.
Schare also hears complaints regarding livestock that need adequate shelter and to eat more to maintain their body heat.
“One thing we also see quite regularly in the winter is that water freezes, and there are those who are of the opinion that eating snow is sufficient for livestock, but there are very specific conditions that apply to that,” Schare said, noting the snow needs to be powdery and clean.
Schare recommends people have a heated water source, ensuring it remains liquid.
The online medical fund for Toast as of Monday, Jan. 31 has raised more than $4,400, and more than $2,500 for Beans, Charlotte and Sir Hootsalot, who Good Samaritans also saved. The kittens are all losing their ears and have peeling toe pads.
Read More: Winter feeding best left to wildlife experts
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.