By Ian Holmes

5-year pet ownership ban issued after dog’s blood drained by fleas

Nov 1, 2018 | 12:16 PM

NANAIMO — A sentence has been issued to a man for neglecting a Lantzville area dog who nearly died from blood-sucking fleas.

Gary Kenneth Bob was handed a 5-year ban for caring for animals and fined $250 this week in Provincial Court in Nanaimo after he pleaded guilty to causing an animal to continue to be in distress.

A then 14-year-old terrier named Rascal was surrendered to the BC SPCA and rushed to a local vet in late July, 2017.

Nanaimo and District SPCA branch manager Leon Davis told NanaimoNewsNOW he’s encouraged by the sentence.

“I know there’s a little bit of controversy whether it could have been harsher but we do always like to see the judge contemplate a ban from owning animals, and in this case it does send a message to the community that fleas are a serious issue.”

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The BC SPCA confirmed it received a $750 donation from Bob in September.

Rascal lost an estimated 85 per cent of his blood from thousands of fleas and required a life-saving transfusion. 

Davis said B.C.’s south coast is flea country, which local SPCA staff are reminded of regularly.

“It’s the number one cause of distress with a lot of the animals that come in and if left untreated it can lead to life-threatening conditions.”

Davis said a three-month supply of flea medication costs $50 to $60, which he said should be purchased from a vet and not over-the-counter, which he said can lead to injuries and deaths in pets.

Davis said properly treating fleas also prevents worms, which live inside fleas.

Rascal made a remarkable recovery following his rescue and treatment.

Davis said Rascal, who was beloved by everybody who crossed paths with him, passed away peacefully from cancer several months ago.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes