Dog rescue in court battle over alleged fighting dogs

Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary wants to help 21 dogs seized by the OSPCA from an alleged fighting ring in the Chatham, Ont. area last October.

“We reached out and offered to take in all of them and provide rehabilitation,” said Clare Forndran, spokeswoman for the sanctuary.

She said even the dogs’ owners, the alleged abusers, were willing to sign the animals over to Dog Tales. Instead the court fight continues.

So, the rescue went to court to save the dogs.

WATCH: OSPCA in a court battle against an organization trying to save dogs

3:44 OSPCA in a court battle against an organization trying to save dogs

Dog Tales said they offered to cover all costs, from veterinarian to transportation and everything in between.

“Because we want the OSPCA to be able to take the funds they are spending on these dogs, which I am sure are astronomical at this point, and put it towards other animals that need their help,” said Forndran.

She said even the dogs’ owners, the alleged abusers, are willing to sign the animals over to Dog Tales, instead the OSPCA is continuing the court fight.

In the meantime, the dogs have been kept in kennels in a secret location for nearly a year.

The OSPCA said due to security concerns it is not letting anyone check on the dogs.

Not Dog Tales, nor even elected government officials.

“I basically got the cold shoulder from the OSPCA which doesn’t sit too well, hasn’t sat too well with me,” said MPP Rick Nicholls.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I basically got the cold shoulder from the OSPCA which doesn't sit too well, hasn't sat too well with me," said MPP Rick Nicholls.

Nicholls represents the Chatham-Kent-Essex riding where the dogs were seized.

The OSPCA would not let Global News see the dogs either, and would not do an interview.

A spokesperson emailed the following statement:

“The Ontario SPCA has laid animal abuse charges against an alleged dog fighting organization in Chatham following a detailed investigation. The Ontario SPCA has no jurisdiction to give the dogs to a rescue organization and that decision is made by a judge. The dogs are being well cared for while this case is before the courts. We will always strive to rehabilitate animals if it is safe to do so. The world’s experts on dog fighting, the American SPCA assessed the dogs stating many were the most aggressive dogs they had ever seen. Evidence in regards to public safety is before the courts. No legal fees are incurred by the Ontario SPCA as the Crown Attorney undertakes this legal work. Our audited financial statements are available on our website. The Ontario SPCA strives to provide as much information as possible as long as it does not jeopardize an investigation.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The Ontario SPCA has laid animal abuse charges against an alleged dog fighting organization in Chatham following a detailed investigation. The Ontario SPCA has no jurisdiction to give the dogs to a rescue organization and that decision is made by a judge. The dogs are being well cared for while this case is before the courts. We will always strive to rehabilitate animals if it is safe to do so. The world's experts on dog fighting, the American SPCA assessed the dogs stating many were the most aggressive dogs they had ever seen. Evidence in regards to public safety is before the courts. No legal fees are incurred by the Ontario SPCA as the Crown Attorney undertakes this legal work. Our audited financial statements are available on our website. The Ontario SPCA strives to provide as much information as possible as long as it does not jeopardize an investigation."

One quarter of their annual budget comes from taxpayer dollars.

“It’s kind of like, ‘Here you go, here’s your money, have a nice day,'” said Nicholls.

“There is a board, there is oversight,” insisted David Orazietti, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Service.

Except the OSPCA doesn’t have to tell anyone on the outside anything. Not how many court battles they are in, or costs.

For example, they are currently fighting seven Humane Societies over voting powers, but there is no way to tell what they are spending on legal fees.

“We are going to review the OSPCA,” said Orazietti.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We are going to review the OSPCA," said Orazietti.

But for those involved in this fight, like Forndran, it comes back to the animals.

“These dogs are victims of a horrific crime,” she said.

“It’s not right to rescue these dogs from a life of abuse and horror only to sentence them to death.”