An Ontario family is heartbroken after their six-month-old puppy, Charlie, adopted from the Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Shelter, had to be euthanized just over a month later due to severe health issues. Despite being assured by the shelter that the puppy was healthy, Charlie began showing symptoms such as lethargy, excessive thirst, and loss of appetite soon after adoption.
Veterinary consultations revealed that Charlie had renal dysplasia, a congenital condition affecting kidney development, resulting in nearly $8,000 in medical expenses. Unfortunately, the family had to make the difficult decision to euthanize Charlie after only 38 days.
A veterinary expert mentioned that while pre-anesthetic blood tests are a best practice to identify underlying health issues, cost constraints prevent many shelters from performing them. The Ontario SPCA expressed condolences and emphasized their efforts to work with veterinarians to assess animals before adoption.
The family hopes their experience will raise awareness and help other families avoid similar situations.
