BC SPCA to recommend charges of animal cruelty against Langley dog walker

WATCH: The SPCA is recommending charges against the dog walker accused in the deaths of six dogs. Catherine Urquhart reports. 

VANCOUVER – The BC SPCA has announced they will be recommending charges against a Lower Mainland dog walker after six dogs died while in her care on May 13.

Known as the “Brookswood 6,” the dogs were originally reported as stolen by the woman, but on May 18 she admitted that the dogs had died after being left in her truck on a hot day.

Emma Paulsen was taken into custody, according to Mounties, but was later released.

Two petitions have been started calling for criminal charges to be laid in the case.

Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA, said enough evidence has been obtained in the investigation so far to warrant a recommendation for separate charges for each of the six dogs under the Criminal Code of Canada.

“Obviously the ultimate decision about whether or not charges will be laid rests with Crown counsel, but the preliminary necropsy results and other evidence gathered in our investigation so far supports our recommendation,” said Moriarty.

The BC SPCA is still completing its report, which will be submitted to Crown counsel within the next few weeks.

The BC SPCA investigates nearly 8,000 complaints of animal abuse and neglect each year and is funded by community donations. To find out how you can help, visit spca.bc.ca/support.