On one of the hottest days of the year, Langley Animal Protection Society seized 16 emaciated and overheated dogs and rescued 12 cats in varying degrees of distress from a shed and van in rural Langley Wednesday afternoon.

The call came in about cats locked in an overheated shed on a North Otter farm, said Sarah Jones, executive director of LAPS. SPCA received the original call, but overloaded with cases they requested assistance from LAPS.

Animal control officers Haeley McKinney and Beth Potts were dispatched, accompanied by police and LAPSsa国际传媒� manager of animal control services Greg Wilhite. They arrived to find cats sa国际传媒� all believed to be between one and four years old sa国际传媒� living in what Jones described as deplorable conditions sa国际传媒� all of them open-mouth panting due to the extreme heat.

It was so hot inside the building, which was about 10x20 feet and screwed shut, that officers instantly started sweating, Jones related.

sa国际传媒淲hen we walked into the shed with the cats, we were overwhelmed by the heat and urine smell where all the cats were being housed. There was no air flow, and the litter boxes were overflowing,sa国际传媒� McKinney said.

It was during their investigation that officers also found 12 dogs, stacked two to a kennel on top of each other, in a van parked on the rural property sa国际传媒� the temperature inside reading 38.9掳 Celsius. Four more dogs were found inside the house.

sa国际传媒淥nce we saw the dogs that were housed in the van with temperatures dangerously high, we were extremely concerned about their welfare and well being,sa国际传媒� said Potts.

sa国际传媒淣o human could sit in a vehicle at 38.9掳 for even five seconds without being overcome by the heat, let alone with a fur coat on,sa国际传媒� Jones added.

The unlicenced Yorkie and Maltese mix dogs sa国际传媒� including four puppies about four-months-old sa国际传媒� were seized under municipal jurisdiction, and the owner surrendered 12 of 17 cats on the property. Five cats were held back by the owner, but the SPCA was on scene Friday, looking to possibly seize the remaining felines.

Upon closer examination of all the animals taken into care, they were all found to be in some state of distress, Jones elaborated. Several required immediate medical attention, and itsa国际传媒檚 still unclear if all will survive.

Medical evaluations by Dr. Adrian Walton revealed various serious concerns among the animals.

For instance, many of the dogs displayed severe dental issues, and animals were suffering from parasite-related conditions, including hair loss, sores, scabs and abrasions. The majority of the animals were very thin and underweight.

Jones elaborated, saying fleas were crawling all over the animals.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e never seen so many fleas in my life,sa国际传媒� she said.

One of the dogssa国际传媒� teeth were so bad that sa国际传媒渢he only reason that most of the teeth were still there was because the tartar was so thick it was acting like mortar keeping the teeth from falling out,sa国际传媒� Walton explained.

One cat required immediate care, because it had a tattered collar on that had caused sores, wounds, and hair loss around her neck. And, a senior dog was found to have a mammary mass that may be related to overbreeding or cancer.

sa国际传媒淟APSsa国际传媒� goal is to support vulnerable animals and ensure every animal thrives in our community. The fact the dogs were living in small cages stacked on top of each other inside a van for an indefinite period is heartbreaking,sa国际传媒� Jones said.

She said she is convinced this was likely a breeding operation.

sa国际传媒淲e can only imagine the stress [the animals] have been under, and how they have suffered from their medical conditions,sa国际传媒� she said.

Despite everything the dogs had been through, she said they are sa国际传媒渟urprisingly not terrifiedsa国际传媒� of people. She described some as scared, some shy, but all quite friendly sa国际传媒� considering.

Initial assessments also suggest potential pregnancies among several female dogs and cats, with most of the animals intact.

The range of ages among the dogs, spanning from puppies to seniors, reflects the diverse group affected by the circumstances.

sa国际传媒淪pending hours examining every animal and seeing the suffering they have endured makes us want to do more to help prevent these types of situations through our social service programs. The dogs were so sweet and did not deserve to be treated this way,sa国际传媒� said Jones, who said shesa国际传媒檚 never been part of such a large seizure/surrender case before.

This was an unexpected and unprecedented case for LAPS, when already at capacity with unwanted animals, she added.

sa国际传媒淭hese vulnerable dogs and cats may be with us for months while on their road to recovery. The financial extent to get these animals healthy so they can have the second chance they deserve will come at a steep cost that was not planned for,sa国际传媒� she commented.

Anyone wishing to support their care, or that of other animals in the shelter, can consider donating to .

The investigation related to the condition of the animals is currently active and upon its conclusion all information will be provided to the BC SPCA for evaluation, to determine if charges can be recommended to Crown counsel.

sa国际传媒淭he welfare and rights of the animals remains our central focus, and (LAPS) will continue to provide the necessary care and attention,sa国际传媒� she said.

None of these animals is currently up for adoption while the investigation is still active.

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