Puppy Mill
Peterborough, ON (CA)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Harold John Varty

The Peterborough Humane Society is satisfied with the results of charges laid against Harold John Varty. Varty was charged with two counts of animal cruelty as well as seven counts of cruelty under the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for failing to provide the necessities of life in January. Varty appeared in court to answer to the charges laid against him in February. As a result of the raid he handed over his dogs to the society. Two Yorkshire terriers succumbed because of the sordid conditions.

"It is obvious that these dogs had received no water or proper food; their dishes were bone dry," says Feagan, General Manager and animal inspector for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (SPCA). Mr. Varty pleaded guilty to four counts of animal cruelty and was fined $250 for each count; he has a year to pay. He is also prohibited from owning animals for three years. The SPCA will be monitoring to make sure Mr. Varty has no animals in his possession.

Lorraine and Jack Martin from Campbellford purchased one of Mr. Varty's corgi/terrier cross dogs on June 10, 2003, when they saw an ad in the paper. "There were two dogs barking out front like crazy; there was a shed and inside there was a cage with three puppies. It stank and was filthy. There was no grass and the adults were tied to large chains. They also stank to high heaven," says Mrs. Martin.

As Stinky neared his seven-month birthday it was obvious to the Martins that he had a problem.
�An increasing number of dogs with behaviour problems are coming to class. It�s the first-time dog owner who does not recognize signs of aggression or dominance in a puppy and even if they do, the dominance and aggression are inherited and difficult to address even for an experienced dog owner," says Suzanne Towns, Dog Trainer at K-9 College. With heavy hearts the Martins sought animal behaviourist Kerry Vinson, who is certified in diagnosing and treating canine behaviour.

"Stinky was a pretty aggressive dog and some of his behaviour was related to dominance as well as genetics. Temperament and dominance usually come from the breeding," says Vinson who saw Stinky for a few months.

As time went on it appeared that his behaviour got more aggressive and unpredictable. "I started to be afraid of him," says Lorraine. Jack felt the same way. They loved him dearly but on April 7, 2004, almost a year since he was born, the Martins had to put their beloved Stinky to sleep.

"We are glad that something was done; people like that don�t deserve to have animals," says Martin.

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