A dog breeder in the Cowichan Valley has been forced to surrender 17 animals to the BC SPCA due to neglect.

Officials say they removed 15 Silky Terriers that were living in poor conditions with badly matted fur, overgrown nails and soaked in urine and feces. The 10 females and five males ranged between one and nine years old and were legally surrendered into SPCA care after a brief investigation.

Two other adult shepherd dogs were also taken.

鈥淲e were lucky in this case that we were able to intercede early, but without regulations of this industry we see too many situations that can slip through the cracks and the animals are the ones who suffer,鈥� said Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA.

鈥淲e鈥檙e sure, that with the right resources in place, the public will be able to have confidence in a regulated industry where dogs and cats bred in B.C. are not subjected to the neglect that these poor dogs were exposed to.鈥�

In addition to having to give up all their dogs, the individuals in this case signed a written agreement to not own or take possession of any new animals.

The dogs are now being cared for in SPCA foster homes arranged through the Cowichan and Comox chapters, and adoptions are pending.

The BC SPCA says it carries out nearly 10,000 investigations of animal cruelty and neglect each year.