Alberta SPCA seized 82 animals, including 56 dogs, in Mountain View County during an RCMP investigation where several stolen vehicles and guns were recovered.
On April 23, RCMP asked the SPCA to assist with the animals. Ten sheep, nine llamas, four chickens and three geese were also found on the rural property. All the animals were determined to be in distress and taken into care.
“Lately we’ve seen more large seizures with companion animals (cats and dogs) but we are accountable for enforcing the Animal Protection Act outside the cities of Edmonton and Calgary which means we are empowered to enforce the legislation for all species of animals,” said SPCA executive director Leanne Niblock.
She said with so many dogs at the property, it’s usually a breeder or someone who hoards or collects animals.
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Since early March, about 250 animals have been seized by, or surrendered, to SPCA peace officers, most of them coming four investigations. Charges are being considered in all recent cases, pending the investigations.
“Our team, and the animal welfare community as a whole, is facing unprecedented pressure this spring. Rising costs of living, lingering impacts of the pandemic, and climate change leading to drought and wildfire just exacerbate the already desperate situation. These large rescues add enormously to the pressure, and to be blunt, to our expenses.”
Animals from the seizure in Mountain View County are being medically assessed.
“We’re getting lots of calls from folks who want to adopt the animals. They’re not in the position to be adopted yet,” said Niblock, who expected there would be a lot of interest from the public.
“People just need to be patient and watch for us to post on social media channels when the animals are available to be adopted.”
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The police investigation began on April 22 when officers with RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit observed a white GMC Sierra with an obstructed licence plate towing a flat deck trailer and a skid steer leaving a rural property in Mountain View County.
During a traffic stop, it was determined that the pickup truck had been stolen out of Crossfield, the black tilt deck trailer had been stolen out of Calgary, and the Caterpillar skid steer had been stolen from Okotoks.
A 43-year-old man, of Foothills County, was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie on May 23.
As a result of that arrest, a search warrant was executed for the property on April 23 where policed seized six stolen trucks, as well as four utility trailers, an ATV, an RV, two flat deck trailers, an electric mountain bike, two shotguns, a bolt-action rifle, two .22-calibre rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and six industrial heaters.
A 44-year-old man, of Mountain View County, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, failing to comply with a release order, and unauthorized possession of a firearm. He was remanded into custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie on April 25.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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