On New Year’s Eve, two large-breed dogs, now affectionately named Ben and Jerry, were found cold, starving, and injured on a remote logging road in Joe Rich, Central Okanagan.
Two men driving through the area spotted the pair and immediately noticed one of the dogs was in serious distress. When they opened their vehicle doors, the dogs rushed over, desperate for help. Without hesitation, the men loaded them up and contacted Critteraid Animal Sanctuary for support.
At the veterinary clinic, it was discovered that Ben had suffered a broken jaw and more than 20 puncture wounds on his face. His injuries had made it nearly impossible for him to eat, which explained his frail, emaciated state. Jerry, on the other hand, was in much better shape and is expected to recover quickly.
“Ben has a much longer road ahead of him,” said Lori Stewart, president of Critteraid. “He’ll need surgery and three to five months of recovery, but thankfully, his injuries are not life-threatening. Both dogs are incredibly sweet despite everything they’ve endured.”
The community rallied immediately. Within hours of Critteraid putting out a call for help, foster homes stepped forward to care for the dogs while they heal.
Now, Ben and Jerry are safe, receiving love and medical care. Once Ben undergoes surgery and both dogs regain their strength, they will be assessed for adoption.
“They have the best demeanour,” Stewart added. “Everyone who has met them has said the same thing: they are amazingly gentle and loving. We’re confident they’ll find wonderful forever homes when the time comes.”