Animal Protection
April 4, 2008
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR, ANIMAL CRUELTY OFFICERS HAVE RAIDED A PUPPY MILL NEAR BANCROFT.
THIS TIME, THEY SEIZED OVER 160 DOGS AND PUPPIES THAT WERE BEING HOUSED IN CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AS "DEPLORABLE".
THE RAID HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO PUT MORE TEETH INTO ITS 90-YEAR-OLD ANIMAL PROTECTION LAW.... WHICH COULD PUT PUPPY MILL OWNERS OUT OF BUSINESS, FOR GOOD.
THE STORY FROM NEWSWATCH'S LIZ COOK.
A SAD, BUT FAMILIAR SIGHT FOR HUMANE SOCIETIES ACROSS ONTARIO. THESE DOGS WERE JUST SEIZED FROM A PUPPY MILL IN BANCROFT.... AND SOME WERE BROUGHT TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN NAPANEE. ANIMAL CRUELTY OFFICERS REMOVED 166 DOGS AND PUPPIES FROM WHAT THEY'RE CALLING "DEPLORABLE" CONDITIONS. ... 4 OR 5 DOGS JAMMED INTO ONE CAGE ... MANY COVERED IN THEIR OWN FECES, WITH NO WATER. CONNIE MALLORY: "WHEN WE WENT INTO THE BARN WHERE THE DOGS WERE HOUSED, THE FIRST NOTICEABLE THING WAS THE SMELL THAT CAME OUT OF THE DOOR, WE HAD TO BACK OUT OF THE BUILDING AND GO AND GET PROPER RESPIRATORY PROTECTION." THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR THAT OFFICERS HAVE REMOVED ANIMALS FROM THE SAME BANCROFT PUPPY MILL. LAST JUNE, THESE DOGS WERE SEIZED, BUT HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE OWNER A MONTH LATER, BECAUSE OF ONTARIO'S ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS. BUT, NEW LEGISLATION INTRODUCED AT QUEENS PARK THIS WEEK WOULD CHANGE THAT. CONNIE MALLORY: "IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN REVISITED AND CHANGED IN ABOUT 90 YEARS." UNDER THE NEW LAW, ANIMAL ABUSERSWOULD FACE INCREASED FINES, JAIL TIME AND EVEN A LIFE-TIME BAN ON OWING ANIMALS. IT WOULD ALSO BE ILLEGAL TO HARM OR OBSTRUCT AN SPCA OFFICER.... MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES. CONNIE MALLORY: "INSTANCE OF THIS PUPPY MILL, WE KNEW THINGS WERE NOT UP AND UP, HOWEVER WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GO ON UNTIL WE HAD A PHYSICAL COMPLAINT. THIS WILL CHANGE, IF WE HAVE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THERE ARE ANIMALS IN DISTRESS THAN WE CAN INVESTIGATE." ANOTHER BIG CHANGE -- VETERINARIANS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPORT SUSPECTED CASES OF ANIMAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT. SOMETHING THIS KINGSTON VETERINARIAN SUPPORTS. HEATHER "I THINK IT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA, IT BEHOOVES VETERINARIANS TO REPORT ANY CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. IT IS OUR JOB THE TREAT ANIMALS AND MEET THEIR NEED MEDICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. IT IS GOOD TO KEEP A WATCHFUL, HUMANE SOCIETIES AND OTHER VENUES ARE CERTAINLY A BIG PROPONENT OF THAT." BUT THE LEGISLATION MAY NOT BE PASSED SOON ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE RULES OF THIS PUPPY MILL RAID. THE OWNER CAN STILL GET THE ANIMALS BACK, IF HE'S WILLING TO PAY THE STAFFING AND MEDICAL BILLS ONCE THEY'RE NURSED BACK TO HEALTH. IF THE NEW LAW IS PASSED, PUPPY MILL OWNERS LIKELY WON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.... ANYMORE. LIZ COOK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, NAPANEE.
