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Drugged dog on the mend

The BC SPCA says a stray dog brought to its Sunshine Coast shelter tested positive for THC and “high levels of cocaine.
ernie
Ernie, a senior chocolate Labrador retriever, was found wandering in Roberts Creek in late January in a drugged state.

The BC SPCA says a stray dog brought to its Sunshine Coast shelter tested positive for THC and “high levels of cocaine.”

The senior chocolate Labrador retriever was found wandering near Highway 101 in Roberts Creek in late January and brought to the SPCA’s Solar Road shelter in Sechelt by a Good Samaritan, branch manager Marika Donnelly said.

Staff noticed he was “very uncoordinated and in about two hours he became almost unresponsive.” He was rushed to the Sechelt Animal Hospital, where drug tests were performed and the THC and cocaine were detected in his system.

Hospitalized overnight to recover from the effects of the drugs, the dog, named Ernest, or Ernie, was also diagnosed with serious untreated ear infections and other medical problems. His condition has improved since he started receiving treatment and surgery is scheduled for next week to extract two of his lower canine teeth.

“We were worried about his condition, but he’s pretty spry right now,” Donnelly said Tuesday. “He plays ball and he does a lot of tricks. He’s a people dog.”

Despite his age – estimated at over 10 – and his health issues, Ernie has “a really good prognosis,” Donnelly said, and will be put up for adoption after spending two more months of recovery at the shelter. His medical treatment and care are expected to cost about $2,890.

Ernie’s ordeal came at a time when the Sechelt branch was experiencing an unusually high volume of animals in care, with the branch having already processed 40 adoptions so far this year. As of Tuesday, there were 19 animals in care, including cats, dogs and domestic rats, Donnelly said.

To donate or for more information, visit spca.bc.ca/medicalemergency or visit the branch at 4376 Solar Road, Sechelt, 604-740-0301.