At least 70 dogs have been seized from a farm near Riceton, Sask. It is one of the largest seizures made in Saskatchewan history.
Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS) seized the mixed-breed dogs on April 7 after a veterinarian found many deficiencies in their food, water, shelter, body condition and general care.
Officials with the agency said the deficiencies had not been corrected after previous inspections.
“We left requirements for the owner to make some improvements over several months. It just so happened that the owner didn’t make the required changes,” APSS manager Kaley Pugh said.
Charges against the owner, Terry Baker, are pending under the province’s Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code.
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Baker admits he could have down more.
“Maybe I didn’t give them enough food and some lost a little weight, yeah that’s possible.”
But he also said the dogs were happy and he did his best to take care of them as if they were family.
However, Pugh said the seizure was complicated as the dogs were not well socialized and were difficult to capture.
She also added that they were not able to remove all the dogs from the property and will continue to monitor the remaining dogs and other animals on the farm.
They are now looking to nurse the seized animals back to health and having them adopted.
“We are happy that our friends at the Saskatoon SPCA, Prince Albert SPCA and Regina Humane Society were able to help us care for this very large number of dogs” said Pugh, “but we’re going to need help placing them more permanently so that they can be trained and get adopted into loving homes.”
Anyone willing to help with the rehabilitation and socializing of the dogs is asked to contact one of the shelters or the APSS.
With files from Global Regina’s Brandon Gonez