Sled dog neglect
Williams Lake, BC (CA)Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 30, 2006
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: Chris Camping
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A sled dog owner near Williams Lake has gone to court in an effort to reclaim 50 dogs seized by the SPCA last month.
Animal control officers and the RCMP accused farmer Chris Camping, 61, of neglect. They say many of the dogs were emaciated, dehydrated, and covered with lice and parasites.
Camping, who still has 35 other Alaskan husky dogs, feeds them in the same way a farmer might feed chickens - scattering their food on the ground.
SPCA investigators say it's survival of the fittest, as the larger dogs took most of the food, leaving the smaller, younger dogs to starve.
Camping argues the animal protection agency just doesn't understand his dog-rearing methods. He says he was just keeping his dogs fast and lean for sled racing.
Fifty-one dogs were seized this time. One was euthanized, and the other 50 are being cared for. Two years ago, the SPCA seized another 60 dogs from Camping. Those dogs were never returned.
Camping has filed an application for a court injunction to prevent the SPCA from putting the dogs up for adoption. In his petition, Camping says the SPCA's seizure was illegal. But the SPCA refutes that claim, saying procedures were properly followed.
Meanwhile, Camping will be in court next week, facing charges of "causing unnecessary suffering to an animal."
He also says he's leaving his remaining dogs off their leashes so they can run wild and escape if the SPCA inspectors return to his farm.
Case Updates
Charges have been laid in the May 15 seizure of 50 dogs on Chris Camping's property on Spokin Lake Road.
Crown counsel has laid one charge pursuant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and one charge pursuant to the Criminal Code against Williams Lake resident Chris Camping, said B.C. SPCA's general manager of cruelty investigations Marcie Moriarty in a press release.
Camping told the Tribune on Monday morning he has yet to be told of the charges. "I haven't been told in any way, shape or form," said Camping.
The charges relate to the seizure by B.C. SPCA Animal Protection Officers of 48 husky-type dogs, one Lab cross and one shepherd cross dog, said Moriarty.
"The situation that confronted us was one of terrible animal cruelty and neglect," Senior Animal Protection Officer Kent Kokoska added in the press release.
One dog was in critical distress due to a severely imbedded collar that had become infected and surrounded by rotting flesh, and another dog's nails were so overgrown that they curled around pads that were inflamed with mange.
"Not only were the dogs neglected, but the environment in which they were found was abysmal," said Kokoska. "There were empty, rusting water tins and the fecal accumulation suggested that the area had never been cleaned."
Camping told the Tribune shortly after the incident that he was embarrassed about this particular dog's state but the B.C. SPCA had used "pretty strong language" to describe his operation.
This is the second time that animal cruelty charges have been laid against Camping, said Moriarty. He is currently in trial with respect to a similar seizure in 2004, where a number of sick and neglected dogs were taken in to custody of the B.C. SPCA. Camping confirmed that this case is still in court. He added that he is not sure what happened to all of the over 40 dogs seized at this time but he believes most of them have been destroyed.
Camping said the B.C. SPCA does do a lot of good work in the community but he is not happy with what he calls abuse of their mandate and policing towards dog owners.
Moriarty said that recommendations will be made to Crown counsel that they seek a lifetime ban on Camping owning animals and a term in prison. "It is our hope that the courts will recognize the severity of this case and hand out the maximum sentence permitted. Ideally, Mr. Camping would be banned from ever owning or caring for dogs for the rest of his life."
Camping said the B.C. SPCA has been saying that he should be banned from owning dogs and given a prison term for about two years now, but he believes comments like this are prejudicial. "That (a prison term and banned from owning dogs) is for a judge decide," said Camping. "I don't think they should be going to the media (with these comments)."
The dogs are currently in the custody of the B.C. SPCA undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation, said Moriarty. Camping has filed an injunction with the courts seeking the return of the dogs and the B.C. SPCA will be opposing this application, said Moriarty.
Camping said he will appear in court next Monday morning, July 24 to ask the court to stop the B.C. SPCA from disposing of his animals. | Source: The Williams Lake Tribune - July 18, 2006
Update posted on Jul 19, 2006 - 7:12PM |
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