Pomeranian left at Calgary soccer club in backpack ‘egregious’: humane society

The Calgary Humane Society is asking the public for help after a dog in distress was abandoned in the southeast in early February.

The seven-year-old Pomeranian named Coco was left in a backpack at the Calgary Southwest United Soccer Club on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) said Tuesday.

The society’s head of enforcement, Brad Nichols, says on the spectrum of abandonment, it’s “egregious” given the poor physical condition and acute medical needs of the dog.

“We have more information about this dog than is typical, so I am confident that someone out there knows this dog and where and to whom he belongs,” he said.

“We are asking the public for any information that may lead us to the person responsible for this cowardly and cruel act.”

Speaking to CityNews, Nichols says a member of the public found the dog and brought it to CHS for treatment. He says Coco was quite ill and was found extremely dehydrated and malnourished.

“This dog required immediate and extensive medical care, was hospitalized in an ER clinic for almost a week with a guarded prognosis,” he said.

“It’s just very recently that we’ve been able to bring the dog into our care here at CHS.”

While it’s not clear for how long, he says the dog was already suffering from malnutrition when he was put into the bag.

However, he says Coco is “not out of the woods yet.”

“We see animals left in boxes quite often, but in more public areas for someone to find, this one, this one is egregious for that reason,” Nichols said.

“The bag wasn’t left out in an area easily located. Someone just happened upon it, thankfully. What would have happened to the dog otherwise? You can use your imagination, but it wouldn’t have been good.”

According to the CHS, abandonments are on the rise, with many being left in apartments to fend for themselves.

Nichols says there are all sorts of help for anyone who cannot afford to feed or care for their animal, adding there is no excuse to abandon a pet.

“We need to feed and water our animals, regardless of whether we’re struggling ourselves,” he said.

“If we’re not able to, that’s where we need to start making some responsible decisions for these animals that are dependent on us, whether that be surrendering to a facility that can provide that care or getting involved with one of these social service programs to ensure that the animal that you’ve taken responsibility for is able to get its basic needs fulfilled.”

Abandonment and medical neglect are offences under the Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code, punishable by up to a $20,000 fine, a lifetime prohibition from owning animals, and two years in prison.

Anyone with information on the dog is asked to call the Calgary Humane Society at 403-205-4455 or through the online report cruelty portal on its website.