In a case that has horrified SPCA enforcement officials, Anderson Joe and Melissa Tooshley of Duncan have been charged with animal cruelty after a dog seized from their care died from severe neglect.

BC SPCA special constables seized the emaciated, chained dog in critical distress on Feb. 16.

sa国际传媒淭his is one of the most profoundly shocking and disturbing cases of abuse we have ever witnessed,sa国际传媒� said Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA. sa国际传媒淲e received a report of a dog in distress and when the constables arrived at the property they found a medium-sized brown dog on a tether that was only a few inches long, standing in a large pile of mud and feces.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淎s they got closer there was an overpowering stench and they realized that, not only was the dog severely emaciated, but his collar was deeply embedded into his neck, causing massive infection,sa国际传媒� she said.

Moriarty adds that the dogsa国际传媒檚 head was swollen to two to three times its normal size.

sa国际传媒淭he constables used bolt cutters to free the dog and immediately rushed him to an emergency veterinary clinic,sa国际传媒� says Moriarty. sa国际传媒淭he wound from the embedded collar exposed the dogsa国际传媒檚 trachea and jugular vein sa国际传媒� it was horrific.sa国际传媒�

Despite extensive emergency treatment and around-the-clock care, the dog succumbed to his critical condition two days later, the SPCA reported.

sa国际传媒淭his kind of appalling neglect and cruelty is sickening and absolutely unacceptable in our society,sa国际传媒� says Moriarty.

If convicted, Joe and Tooshley face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals.