EDMONTON- Two people have been charged with animal cruelty related offences, after more than 50 animals were found in “deplorable conditions” in a north Edmonton animal training facility.
“We originally were called by Animal Control who had received a number of complaints, I think 15 in total, from May of last year until July of this year,” explained Sergeant Malcolm Allan with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).
After a lengthy, joint investigation by the Edmonton Police Service and Edmonton Animal Care and Control Centre (ACCC), a search warrant was obtained, and the facility- identified as Bark- was searched on Friday, July 19. Inside, officials found 46 dogs and six cats within a space of just 350 square feet in the area of 93 Street and 111 Avenue.
Police say each animal is being physically examined for good health and scanned to determine legal ownership. Owners of animals with identification are being contacted directly by ACCC staff.
“They were in varying conditions of health, but many of them were in poor health. There was no hygiene precautions taken with these animals. By all reports, it was a very, very filthy environment,” Allan explained Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a lot of animals and a lot of the complaints pertained to that. Just the number of animals, the smell coming from the place, citizens observations of the business owners and their treatment of animals outside the property. Those are the sorts of things that drew Animal Control and, ultimately, the police’s attention to that address,” he added.
The building and property were deemed uninhabitable for human(s) and/or animal(s) by Alberta Heath Services.
Thirty-six year-old Ali Sanaee has been charged with two counts of failure to provide proper care of an animal, four counts of willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal, and possession of stolen property under $5,000.
Twenty-five year-old Jessica M. Fookes has been charged with two counts of failure to provide proper care of an animal, willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal, and possession of stolen property under $5,000.
Bark, which stands for Behavior Assessment and Rehabilitation for K9s, has since shut down its website and Facebook page. But an ad on Kijiji promotes the centre as an affordable place for dog training and rehabilitation.
The Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) can’t speak to this case specifically, but says any case of animal cruelty is concerning to them. Staff members say animal owners should do their research before leaving their animal with any kennel or training facility.
“You want to make sure that the staff are knowledgeable and that the facility is clean. I would recommend making sure that they have a vaccine protocol there, so that all the dogs there are up to date on their shots,” said Travis Grant, a spokesperson with EHS.
“And also that anybody who’s going to run a kennel or dog daycare is reputable and capable of providing the kind of services that is ethical and is going to make sure that your dog has proper care.”
The exact charges against the pair are not known at this time, but Allan says they will pertain to animal cruelty.
“There will be at least one possession of stolen property (charge) in relation to one of the dogs that… has a legitimate, lawful owner,” he added.
The animals are now in the care of Animal Control.
Anyone who may have left their animal in the care of Bark is urged to contact EPS at 780-423-4567.
With files from Jenna Bridges, Global News.
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