One of the most difficult occurrences at the shelter involves stray dogs that do not get claimed by their owners, due to the owner never reporting the dog missing.

On April 21, the Comox Valley SPCA received a call about a stray dog, found on Hope Road in Cumberland. The kind people who found her brought her in to the shelter.

The senior dog was a female border collie type cross. She was in extremely rough shape, emaciated, lethargic, and her fur was matted and full of feces, urine, dirt and debris.

Named Hope by shelter staff, she was rushed to Van Isle Veterinary Clinic where she received fluids and antibiotics, and overnight care. The vet staff went above and beyond to clean her up and make her comfortable. After two days, she was transferred back to the shelter.

Over several days, staff tried to trace what they could read of the tattoo, making many phone calls to possible owners. Staff also searched through their 鈥渓ost reports,鈥� and called other residents and businesses in the Hope Road area, with the intention of finding someone who may have known of a dog that lived in the area, but to no avail.

The Comox Valley SPCA urges pet guardians to make sure their pets have a collar with ID, or have them tattooed. In Hope鈥檚 case, staff are mystified why nobody called to report her missing.

Pet guardians sometimes think their elderly animals 鈥渨ander off to die,鈥� but this is rare. Our thanks to the kind people who found Hope and took her in for the night before bringing her in to the SPCA.

Hope should have been with her family for her final hours, but at least she received vet care, love and compassion during her last few days.

The Comox Valley SPCA is reaching out to the community, hoping someone may recognize the animal. She was wearing a blue collar. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition, Hope was euthanized on April 26.

For more information, call the Comox Valley SPCA at 250-339-7722.

鈥� Comox Valley SPCA