Best friends Alli Isaacs and Satori Yatsuda have known for months that they want to raise money for a good cause.
So when news broke last week about the seizure of 66 dogs from an alleged puppy mill in Langley, the teens turned their focus to helping the SPCA.
"It's hard to imagine that someone would do that to dogs," Isaacs, 13, said Wednesday, referring to the physical condition of the animals. "They don't deserve to be treated like that."
According to SPCA officials, the 32 adult dogs and 34 puppies seized Feb. 4 suffered medical and psychological issues ranging from broken limbs, missing ears and eyes and infections to malnutrition and being caked in dried feces.
"We just both wanted to help," said Yatsuda, 14.
The Earl Marriott Secondary students – who met through mutual friends about two years ago and now play on the same soccer team and also share a paper route – decided to start with a bottle drive. They've already delivered flyers throughout Ocean Park and Crescent Beach asking anyone with cans and bottles to spare to leave them out for pickup on Saturday. As well, they've been spreading the word via email and Instagram.
The friends haven't set a fundraising goal.
"We're just going to be happy with whatever we get," Yatsuda said.
Isaacs hopes the funds will help offset the costs of veterinary care for the sick and neglected animals – which now also include dogs and cats that were seized from a Surrey property Tuesday.
"There's a lot of animals that need the help," she said. "Hopefully, we can raise the cost to help some of it."
To arrange a pickup or donate, email allisatori@gmail.com or search "fundraiselocals" on Instagram.