Animal welfare workers have rescued 34 starving, diseased dogs from a suspected Bruce County puppy mill where they found a poodle that appeared to be half-eaten by other dogs.
The dogs, West Highland Terriers, Shar-Peis and Pekingese, were taken to the Newmarket branch of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Nov 1.
Society spokesman Christine Arnett said the dogs were found in a Lucknow home in the Township of Huron Kinloss, suffering varying degrees of neglect.
Some are being treated for eye infections, dental diseases and leg fractures. All were emaciated and severely dehydrated.
"It appears one was also eaten by other dogs," Arnett said of the dead poodle found in a garden shed with 10 other dogs.
There was only half a bag of dog food to be shared among the 34 dogs, and no water. Case UpdatesOn January 10 and 11, 2006, the Ontario SPCA York Region Branch will be accepting adoption applications for the 35 dogs and puppies rescued from a property in Lucknow, located near Ripley, Ontario on November 1, 2005.
As part of the adoption process, once the Ontario SPCA adoption staff has reviewed the applications, suitable applicants will be contacted for an interview. The Branch is located at 16586 Woodbine Avenue in Whitchurch-Stouffville and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.
Since their rescue, the dogs and puppies, as well as three Pekingese and two Shar-pei puppies that were born at the Branch after the rescue, have been thriving under the care of Ontario SPCA shelter and veterinary staff. During the next week the dogs will be spayed and neutered in preparation for their adoption.
The dogs were rescued following a complaint from the public. On November 1, 2005 Ontario SPCA investigators, accompanied by a veterinarian and two Ontario Provincial Police Officers from the South Bruce Detachment, executed a search warrant on the Lucknow property. The investigation of the property found 23 adult dogs, six puppies estimated to be about three to four months old, five nursing puppies, and one deceased dog. The dogs are of various breeds including poodles, Pekingese, Shar-peis, West Highland terriers, and Jack Russell terriers.
The veterinarian at the scene determined that the dogs and puppies were suffering from various medical issues such as dehydration, low body weight, dental disease, and suspected leg injuries on a couple of the dogs. The longer haired breeds had matted fur and some of the dogs had feces encrusted in their feet. Investigators could find only a half bag of dog food for the entire group of dogs and puppies and many of the dogs were without water. The veterinarian checked the two nursing mother dogs and could get only a drop of milk out of one of them.
David Berry, 39, Sharon Montgomery, 56, and Jordin Rutledge, 20, of Lucknow, have each been charged with 27 counts under the Ontario SPCA Act and 22 counts under the Criminal Code of Canada.
The Ontario SPCA Act charges include: failing to provide adequate medical attention to sick animals; failing to provide animals with adequate protection from the elements; failing to provide animals with adequate food and water; confining a dog to an enclosure together with one or more animals that pose a danger to the dog; confining a dog and two nursing puppies to an enclosure with inadequate space; and confining dogs and puppies in unsanitary conditions.
The Criminal Code of Canada charges include: causing unnecessary pain by failing to provide adequate medical care; causing unnecessary pain and suffering by housing a dog with one or more animals that pose a danger to the dog; and causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by confining it and two nursing puppies to an enclosure with inadequate space.
Berry, Montgomery and Rutledge are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, Walkerton on January 10, 2005. | Source: OSPCA - January 4, 2006
Update posted on Jan 4, 2006 - 10:26PM |
References« Back to Search Results Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges. For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.
|
