Puppies found freezing on the side of Middlesex road headed for rescue agency
Four puppies abandoned in the freezing cold on the side of a Middlesex County road are headed to a rescue agency this weekend.
The puppies, three girls and one boy, were thankfully spotted by a good Samaritan in time, according to Cassia Bryden, an animal control officer with Hillside Kennels near Woodstock.
“She was pulling up to an intersection and she noticed the basket on the side of the road, and initially, she thought that somebody had just left it there with some garbage. But when she took a further glance, she noticed something moved,” said Bryden.
The caring woman quickly put the puppies in her vehicle. Once in the care of animal control, they were found to be hungry and full of worms.
“The worms were astronomical, like one of the higher loads of worms that we have seen in such young puppies. So, that is just evidence that they really haven’t been taken care of," stated Bryden.
But with a few days of proper diet and care, the puppies are worm-free and have each gained a pound.
Cassia Bryden is an animal control officer with Hillside Kennels Animal Control, seen on Jan. 10, 2025. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
It is estimated they are between five and six weeks old.
On Saturday, they will be transferred to a rescue near Chatham to be cared for until a new family welcomes them home.
Meanwhile, Hillside operator Tracey Gibson stated general dog adoptions are plummeting.
She said that is true even for puppies. Still, large breeds face the biggest wait.
Gibson said many kennels in Ontario are full Mastiffs and Cane Corsos. The large and strong dogs are the least likely to find homes.
Four puppies, seen on Jan. 10, 2025, were abandoned in Middlesex County and are heading to a rescue. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
It is a reality that kennel staff agonize over as they serve 13 municipalities.
As the staff at Hillside get ready to transfer the four pups to the rescue agency, they remain hopeful the public will help them combat so-called ‘‘backyard breeders.”
They are also asking for anyone who has video evidence of the pups or any other abandonment to call them.
“Unless someone has a video evidence and proof, these puppies won't get the justice they deserve," Bryden sighed.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Liberal leadership: Carney expected to launch bid next week, Clark organizing heavily, Gould considers entering
While longtime cabinet ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Melanie Joly have officially announced they have no plans to run for the Liberal leadership, several well-known faces are organizing behind the scenes to launch bids of their own.
BREAKING
BREAKING Two Alberta men sentenced for roles in 2022 Coutts border protest
Two Alberta men have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Amid tense backdrop, Canadian warship gets friendly message from Chinese vessel tracking movements
Daybreak on HMCS Ottawa began with a call over the marine radio from a Chinese warship. The call is coming from a Chinese Frigate known as the Yuncheng, the warship has been shadowing HMCS Ottawa through the South China Sea for two days and counting.
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
Trump gets no-penalty sentence in his hush money case, while calling it 'despicable'
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday to no punishment in his historic hush money case, a judgment that lets him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.
'Devastating beyond words': Paris Hilton shows remnants of home destroyed by L.A. fire
Socialite Paris Hilton shared a video showing her ravaged house, destroyed by the L.A. wildfires., 'I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,' Hilton wrote on Instagram.
Liberal leadership: Melanie Joly, Brian Gallant will not run, both focused on other matters
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will not run for Liberal leadership. Up to now, Joly was widely considered a potential successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Former premier of New Brunswick Bran Gallant also confirmed to CTV News that he will not be in the running for Liberal leader.
School software hack hits school boards across six Canadian provinces
School boards across Canada are grappling with the fallout from a significant cyberattack on PowerSchool, a widely used administration software platform.
Kitchener
-
Gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph: 190 students reportedly sick
The number of gastroenteritis cases at the University of Guelph has risen to 190.
-
Former Stratford, Ont. business owner facing 31 new fraud charges
New fraud charges have been laid against a former restaurant and business owner in Stratford.
-
Shots fired into Kitchener home, neighbours call it 'really shocking'
Waterloo Regional Police Service is investigating after bullet holes were found on a Kitchener residence Thursday afternoon.
Barrie
-
Former student charged with attempted murder in Collingwood school threat investigation
Ontario Provincial Police have added a number of charges to a young man who threatened Collingwood school in 2024.
-
Fisherman rescued from Lake Simcoe in Innisfil
A fisherman had a close call on Lake Simcoe after becoming stranded on an ice flow off the 30th Sideroad in Innisfil Friday.
-
Shift in bridge closes historical Bracebridge Silver Bridge indefinitely
Bracebridge's historical Silver Bridge will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Windsor
-
'Something needs to be done':Transit Windsor rider gets support on both sides of border as petition to save tunnel bus nears 3000 signatures
A Windsor resident who created a petition in an effort to save the tunnel bus from being eliminated is gathering support on both sides of the Windsor/Detroit border.
-
Detroit police authorized to show Lions pride in uniform during playoff run
Detroit police officers have been given permission to show some Lions pride while in uniform, with Chief Todd A. Bettison authorizing them to wear Detroit Lions hats while on duty.
-
Grey family hires lawyer in search of answers
Lots of questions but not a lot of answers in the death of Colin Grey. He passed away Nov. 29 at the age of 63, minutes after leaving police custody.
Northern Ontario
-
Two charged with first-degree murder, arson in northern Ont.
A man and a woman from Blind River have been charged with first-degree murder and a third person has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact.
-
Northern Ont. friends prepare for 450-km ski and snowshoe trek
Jean-Philippe Marineau and Patrice Beauparlant, lifelong friends who grew up in Hearst, Ont., are training for a 450-km trek from Fort Albany to Hearst, Ont.
-
Ontario homeowners left with expensive contracts after company appears to go out of business
Several homeowners in Ontario signed contracts with Provincial Smart Home Services promising rebates for their energy efficient upgrades, but now won't receive them as the company appears to have gone out of business.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Northwestern Ont. woman wins $250K lotto prize
Dorothy Whitefish of Fort Frances, Ont., won the $250,000 top prize with Instant Bingo Multiplier, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. said Friday.
-
Vehicle with tinted windows leads to cocaine bust in the Sault
Two people have been charged with drug trafficking after police in Sault Ste. Marie noticed a vehicle with heavily tinted windows.
-
Superbug outbreak declared at Sault Area Hospital
An outbreak has been declared in a medical unit at the Sault Area Hospital due to a superbug.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa public school board to only offer Enhanced English and French Immersion in new elementary program model
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is looking at consolidating elementary school programs into two – Enhanced English and French Immersion - and will phase out some special education programs as part changes to its programs.
-
Algonquin College closing Perth, Ont. campus as it deals with 'challenging fiscal times'
Algonquin College plans to close its campus in Perth, Ont. next year, as it deals with a multi-million dollar deficit due to the new federal cap on international students and provincial funding shortfalls.
-
More than 68k trips taken in first week of Line 2 & 4 O-Train service
OC Transpo says more than 68,000 trips have been taken on the new O-Train lines since they launched on Monday.
Toronto
-
Toronto to start off weekend with overnight snowfall
Toronto will get a blast of winter weather to start off the weekend, with the possibility of up to 10 centimetres of snow by Saturday morning.
-
Man dies after falling through ice in Lake Ontario: police
A man in his 70s has died after falling through the ice in Lake Ontario by the Toronto Islands, police say.
-
Northbound lane on DVP closed till Spring, starting Sunday
Drivers using the Don Valley Parkway to get around the city will soon have a new long-term headache to deal with.
Montreal
-
27 years after Quebec ice storm, Montrealers find themselves in L.A. wildfire's smoke
Montrealers, accustomed to ice storms, snow and cold, found themselves in Los Angeles this week as major wildfires raged throughout the region.
-
Quebec sending more water bombers to California after aircraft struck by drone
Quebec said Friday it will send two more firefighting aircraft to California, a day after one of the province's water bombers collided with a drone while battling the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.
-
Historic St. James Anglican Church in Hudson, Que. undergoing major renovation after devastating fire
The historic St. James Anglican Church in Hudson, Que. is undergoing major rebuilding following a fire in April 2024 and is seeking input from the community.
Atlantic
-
As N.S. domestic abuse rises, daughter of murdered woman seeks more open discussion
The daughter of a Nova Scotia woman killed by her husband is calling for greater public discussion about domestic violence, saying she learned too late about the warning signs in her mother's relationship.
-
Man, 23, dies after vehicle hits power pole in Moncton
One man is dead and another is seriously injured after a vehicle struck a power pole in Moncton, N.B., Friday morning.
-
Halifax police recover heat pump, alcohol in 'retail theft blitz'
The Halifax Regional Police says it recovered a heat pump, bikes, and 300 boxes and bags as part of a “retail theft blitz” last month.
Winnipeg
-
Crown attorneys warn of heavy caseloads and vacancies putting the public at risk
Manitoba’s Crown attorneys are sounding the alarm over rising crime, caseloads and vacancies which they say are putting the public at risk.
-
Kings arrive in Winnipeg with thoughts for those in fire-ravaged Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Kings were thinking about friends and family in wildfire-ravaged California as they embarked on an eight-day road trip that kicked off Friday in Winnipeg.
-
EPC to consider restoring funding to Millennium Library’s community services hub
The mayor’s inner circle will consider whether to restore funding to a community hub at the Millennium Library.
Calgary
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Two Alberta men sentenced for roles in 2022 Coutts border protest
Two Alberta men have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.
-
Man dies after falling into sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort
An investigation is underway by Elk Valley RCMP after a man died Wednesday after falling into a sink hole at Fernie Alpine Resort.
-
Teen to be sentenced in April for 2023 stabbing death in Copperfield
A teen found guilty of manslaughter in the 2023 stabbing death of Danillo Canales Glenn will be sentenced in April.
Edmonton
-
Man, 20, charged in central Edmonton homicide
Kellen Lee Carr-Mandrusiak was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Brandon Lee Cardinal on Sept. 14.
-
Alberta government reviewing application to regulate massage therapists
Massage therapy associations in Alberta are working with the province to try and get the profession regulated.
-
1 killed, 3 injured in single-vehicle crash north of Bonnyville
One man was killed and three people were injured in a single-vehicle crash north of Bonnyville, Alta., late Thursday night.
Regina
-
Snowfall warning in effect for parts of southwest Sask., some areas could see up to 50 cm
A snowfall warning is in effect for parts of southwest Saskatchewan on Friday, with potential for some areas to reach up to 50 centimetres over the weekend.
-
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
-
Regina man charged in connection to woman's death pleads guilty to manslaughter
A Regina man who was charged in connection to a woman’s death in August pleaded guilty to manslaughter in front of a judge on Friday
Saskatoon
-
Saskatchewan health minister signs on to federal deal for rare disease drugs
Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill has signed a deal with the federal government to expand access to medication for people with rare diseases.
-
Sask. schools among those affected by recent cyberattack
A recent cybersecurity incident targeting PowerSchool, a student information software provider, has compromised data from Prairie Spirit School Division.
-
'Everything is gone': Sask. business owner loses Los Angeles home to wildfires
A Saskatchewan business owner lost her Los Angeles home as wildfires ravage parts of the city.
Vancouver
-
B.C. RCMP officer charged with sexual assault, uttering threats
A British Columbia RCMP officer has been suspended with pay as he faces criminal charges of sexual assault and uttering threats.
-
Vancouver arrest sparks call out for witnesses from police watchdog
British Columbia's police watchdog is appealing for witnesses following an arrest in Vancouver that resulted in a man being injured by a police dog.
-
Despite owner's 'diligent efforts,' derelict Vancouver building will not be demolished on schedule, city says
The owner of a crumbling 127-year-old building in downtown Vancouver is "making every effort" to comply with the city council's order to demolish it, but will not meet the council's 21-day deadline for doing so, according to city officials.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. RCMP officer charged with sexual assault, uttering threats
A British Columbia RCMP officer has been suspended with pay as he faces criminal charges of sexual assault and uttering threats.
-
Does money buy happiness? It depends what you buy and where you live, study says
If you have extra cash lying around, what should you buy? For anyone analyzing their budget for the new year, researchers have a framework that might help get the most satisfaction out of spending.
-
B.C. Mounties say seized key fob kit could be used to steal 'virtually any vehicle'
A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday after Mounties in Kelowna, B.C., recovered a stolen car containing illicit drugs and a car key programming kit that investigators say could be used to steal "virtually any vehicle that uses a key fob."
