Clarenville Area SPCA - The Gladys Groves Copeland Animal Shelter

|Shelter Volunteer Login |

Too often abused or neglected animals are left to suffer in silence because people feel that it isn’t their business. Animal abuse and neglect is everyone’s business. Animals, like small children, need someone to stick up for them and be their voice when they’re being mistreated. The Clarenville Area SPCA is that voice.

If you know of an animal that is being abused, neglected, or mistreated in any way, please contact us. Your taking the time to make that call could mean the difference between a good life and a slow death for that animal. Your name will be kept confidential if you desire. Call the shelter at (709) 466-3489 or feel free to e-mail us at spcaclarenville@nf.aibn.com.

Provide a name and contact number whenever possible in case we need to get additional information. Remember, all calls are confidential.

Provide the owner’s name and street address. Please leave us a detailed description of where to locate the owner and the animal being abused or neglected. If you feel the location will be hard to find, please describe the colour and type of house or any easily recognizable landmarks in the area.

Tell us what type of mistreatment is occurring. Is the animal without food, water, or shelter, etc? How long has the abuse been going on? (Example, the dog has been kept outside for 24 hours per day for the last three weeks with no shelter OR the owners have moved and left their animals behind with no one taking care of them)

What time of the day is someone usually home at that address?

Please note: many of the photos shown below are graphic and may not be suitable for viewing by children or big-hearted animal lovers. Discretion is advised.

Blackie (Neglect)

This picture shows Blackie when he was first found.	This picture shows food having been simply thrown into the back-seat


A report came in one day about a dog that was living in a car. The person who was caring for the dog was gone away and neighbors were trying to keep the dog fed. Special Constable Wayne Holloway went to investigate one evening and found this poor dog living tied inside a car. The water the dog had to drink was green and his food was just thrown on the seat of the car. At one point the dog actually started to choke when he jumped from the backseat to the front-seat and his leash was not long enough. He also had a tumor growing on his stomach that was starting to ulcerate and his ears were so badly infected that they were almost closed off. It was decided that this poor dog had to come to the shelter. read Blackie's Success Story here



Sebastian (Neglect)

This picture shows Sebastian when he was first found.		This picture shows Sebastian after we had him shaved. His coat was too matted to be saved.


Imagine living in an outside pen, walking in your own waste, only bread and dirty water to eat and drink. Fur matted so badly that it was painful to walk. That is the condition this poor dog was in when SPCA Special Constable Wayne went on an investigation and rescued Sebastian, a CKC registered Sheltie and brought him to the Clarenville Area SPCA Shelter. Upon further examination, it was decided that Sebastian needed to have his once beautiful coat shaved, to try to make him feel more comfortable. read Sebastian's Success Story here



Smokey (Neglect & Starvation)



In January 2006, The Clarenville and Area SPCA was called to the Bonavista Peninsula to investigate a report of animal neglect. Upon arrival at the property, the Special Constable, Wayne Holloway, found a dog in an extremely emaciated condition. The dog was removed from the property and taken to the local vet clinic for examination. The dog, Smokey, weighed just 15 lbs and was so lacking in muscle mass and fat that every rib was showing through his skin. He was brought to the SPCA shelter where, despite his weakened condition, he proved to be a cheerful little fellow who more than readily accepted the petting and attention of the shelter workers. His personality and his playfulness, despite all that he had suffered, endeared him to everyone that met him. read Smokey's Success Story here




Sugar (Starvation)


These first two pictures show a stray dog, named Sugar that came into our shelter in an extreme emaciated condition. Given her old age and the seriousness of her condition, sadly this dog was euthanized.





Daisy (Neglect)




This is daisy. In this case, Daisy was removed from her owners by the RCMP as a result of an investigation. The owner was banned from owning animals for 2 years. The first picture shows the deplorable condition of the dog, matted and emaciated. The second picture shows how much weight this dog lost. This is her collar, just see how loose it was when she was rescued! After Daisy recovered, she found a fabulous forever home and lived the remaining years of her life as a princess. Note: The bottom two photos are Daisy in her new home!





Tiny (Embedded Collar)


This is Tiny, a Chocolate Lab Mix. What happened here was that his owner foolishly placed fishing line onto his collar, which then cut into his neck, exposing raw skin. Tiny required medical attention and stitches. If we hadn't removed Tiny when we did, his collar could have become embedded, which then would have been removed by a Vet. After healing under the care of the SPCA, Tiny was adopted into a good home. Sadly, a few years later Tiny was euthanized due to illness.





Skip (Neglect - Failing to provide adequate medical care)


This photo shows a little dog that was left for years with a tumor that continued to grow. Every move the dog made caused him to whine in pain. The owner did not seek medical attention for this dog. Unfortunately by the time the SPCA became involved it was too late to save him. This little dog was humanely euthanized. Special Constable Wayne Holloway investigated this case. The owner was charged and she spent a day in jail, banned from owning animals for 2 years and a small fine.





Neglect (Failing to provide adequate shelter)


These pictures show living conditions found for dogs that live outside on a chain. Winter is when dogs really need a good, well insulated dog house to help protect them from cold and frostbite. Just imagine having to live out there on a chain and not being able to even access a place to lie down that is clean, dry and warm. Unfortunately, this is the sad but very real living conditions for far too many animals!





Neglect (Failing to provide adequate shelter)


These pictures show some of the disqusting living conditions that our constables see when they complete investigations. These two puppies (Baby & Bashful) were removed from their owner and he was criminally charged. They were living outside in this snow covered dog house. They were extremely thin and had received no human socialization. After weeks of intensive work by our volunteers, Bashful was euthanized. He just could not learn to trust humans enough to be adopted out into a home. Baby was adopted but after about a year she had to be euthanized because of her mistrust of people. Special Constable Wayne Holloway investigated this case. The owner received a 2 years probation and $575.00 fine. There were also 3 more puppies we eventually got from this same litter. All 3 were adopted into loving homes and are doing great. It's hard to believe anyone could treat their "pets" like this. It is not acceptable or responsible pet ownership. This is why the Clarenville Area SPCA exists. We are here to help these animals that can not help themselves. These stories are the reality of why we are here and hopefully by sharing them we can prevent further abuse of animals. You can help by being the voice for an abused animal and contact the shelter if you witness situations of abuse or neglect.