Durham region dog trainer facing charges

OSHAWA, Ont. — The owner of a Durham region dog training centre is facing charges by both police and the Humane Society over the alleged disappearance of a pet at the facility, but is denying any wrongdoing.

Durham Regional Police investigators confirm several customers have come forward saying their dogs were "lost" while under the care of the FACW K9 Training and Rehabilitation Centre.

Owner Craig Wright is facing a charge by police of obstructing justice and three charges by the Durham Region Humane Society with regards to one incident.

"The charges are under the SPCA act for permitting distress, causing distress and failing to prescribe to the standards of proper care," said Debby Houghton of the Durham Region Humane Society.

Wright was confronted by protestors and media waiting in the rain outside the Waterloo Street building on Monday night.

"If we were doing what they were saying, we’d been shut down a long time ago," said Wright. "We’ve lost a few dogs… but we’ve never hurt any dogs."

When asked what happened to the missing animals, Wright told Global News they "ran away."

Earlier on Monday, Durham Regional Police officers accompanied a former customer to the south Oshawa location of the training facility looking for her missing pomeranian. A tip led officers to believe the animal was being held in the building, but it was not found.

The missing animal that first brought police to the facility was "Chevy", a dog who’s owners rescued as a companion for their other border collie. They paid $900 to have the dog trained, but say in less than 24 hours, he went missing.

"It’s a nightmare," said Chevy’s owner Linda Fry. "Even as he was putting him in his van, I did not have a good feeling."

Allegations by detectives suggest the accused changed his story about how and when the dog was lost.