A mother and some of her puppies are recovering in a shelter after being abandoned in Gatineau overnight Saturday.
Four of Nala's newborn Boxer puppies were found frozen to death in the Gatineau SPCA parking lot by one of their workers.
"A litter of nine, four died," said France Turcotte of Valley Boxer and Mastiff Rescue in Masham, Que., which is caring for the survivors. "Frozen umbiblical cords still attached, mouth open."
The organization said the dogs could have been in the cold for up to ten hours before one of their workers heard their loud whimpering.
"They put the puppies on their skin so they could warm up really fast, and with the mother they put warm blankets and everything," said France Dubois of the Gatineau SPCA.
Once they got inside, the ninth puppy was born.
Dubois said Nala froze to the floor while outside and also suffered frostbite to her upper lip from licking her babies.
"Anyway you look at it, it's cruelty," said Turcotte. "I feel sad that this person had to come to that because there is neglect on Nala, her nails are overgrown, (she's) thin."
The owner could face criminal charges if found, but in the meantime Nala and her puppies are getting used to their new home.
"Nala is settling in comfortably, getting used to the nursery and her box and the routine here," Turcotte said.
Nala and her five puppies will be taken back to the Gatineau SPCA in six weeks where they will then be up for adoption.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman
