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‘Snoot’ the survivor: Cleft palate puppy brought to SPCA just hours old

Funds raised from Lock-In For Love will help vulnerable animals in B.C. like the little chihuahua-cross
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Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here with Chilliwack SPCA branch manager Chloé MacBeth at the shelter on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

A chihuahua-cross puppy who was born with a cleft palate and brought into the Chilliwack SPCA when he was just hours old, is now the face of a fundraiser.

Baby Snoot was taken to the Chilliwack branch of the SPCA, by the person who bred him, when he was less than 10 hours old.

“He probably wouldn’t be alive today if they hadn’t dropped him off,” said Chilliwack SPCA branch manager, Chloé MacBeth.

Now that he’s with the SPCA, Baby Snoot has become the poster puppy for Lock-In For Love, an annual fundraiser for the SPCA.

The Chilliwack SPCA was “grateful” he was brought into the branch, but “we definitely want to remind people to be very conscious and not support people who are breeding animals for profit… or supporting puppy mills,” MacBeth said.

Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

The breeder who dropped him off knew Baby Snoot would cost them a lot of money and take a lot of time to care for him.

“It’s actually quite costly to breed animals and to do it well,” MacBeth said. “Unfortunately this particular individual didn’t plan for any kind of medical issue when they were breeding their animals.”

When Baby Snoot came in on March 26 he weighed 137 grams. He was immediately put into the hands of one of their foster caregivers who gave him round-the-clock care including bottle feedings every two hours.

Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

His cleft palate will need to be fixed because there’s an opening into his nasal cavity and there’s a risk of aspiration pneumonia. He is now 13 weeks old and was scheduled to have a consultation with a veterinarian earlier this month.

“It’s not just a cosmetic thing, it something that is a medical concern, but that can be fixed provided people plan for these things and don’t breed genetic defects into their bloodlines,” MacBeth said.

Because of COVID and because there’s been an increased demand for puppies, people are seeing that as an opportunity to make money without recognizing that emergencies can happen and medical issues arise, she added.

“Please breed responsibly and make sure you’re not supporting people who don’t.”

Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here with Chilliwack SPCA branch manager Chloé MacBeth at the shelter on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here with Chilliwack SPCA branch manager Chloé MacBeth at the shelter on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

In the coming weeks, Baby Snoot will be having surgery to fix his cleft palate and once he’s healed, he will be up for adoption.

It’s going to cost the SPCA more than $5,000 for Baby Snoot’s procedure. MacBeth is asking people to donate to Lock-In For Love to help not just him, but other animals. They have a goal of raising $10,000 this year and all funds raised here to stay at the Chilliwack branch.

“Animals like Baby Snoot are the creatures we are there to support – the ones that are the most vulnerable and the ones that need our help.”

People can raise money, start a team or simply donate to Lock-In For Love. For more info, go to lockin.spca.bc.ca.

Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Baby Snoot is a chihuahua cross who was born with a cleft palate. He is seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)


 

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Email: jenna.hauck@theprogress.com
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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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