The operator of a Surrey breeding and boarding facility from which 82 animals were seized in February has been charged with animal cruelty.
Xin (Ivy) Zhou was charged under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act following a BC SPCA investigation.
On Feb. 16, BC SPCA seized 82 animals, including 67 cats, 12 dogs and three puppies from Zhou’s property.
The seizure wasn’t the first time Zhou had come under the radar of BC SPCA and Surrey city licencing department. Animals were seized and her licence was cancelled back in June 2014 at a North Surrey location. But she continued to operate without a licence. Zhou then reapplied at a new location in Surrey in November 2015 and was approved, but that conditional approval was overturned in December because it was issued in error.
“In this most recent case, we executed a warrant because we received information that Zhou was failing to provide adequate care for the animals who were currently in her custody,” said Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA.
WATCH: From the archives – The B.C. SPCA has seized dozens of animals in Surrey.
Moriarty says the animals, who required months of treatment in SPCA care, have since been adopted out, but some had to be euthanized.
“We are extremely pleased these charges have been approved,” said Moriarty. “The fact that we had to seize large numbers of animals from her on more than one occasion demonstrates that education is not enough in this case.”
In October, it was suspected Zhou could be back in business of breeding and boarding animals in Surrey. At the time, BC SPCA told Global News they had received welfare concerns and that Zhou did have animals on her property again.
READ MORE: Owner of Surrey pet facility raided by BC SPCA could be back in business
Moriarty says the maximum sentence for Zhou if convicted is a $75,000 fine, two years in jail and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals. She says they would be supportive of a ban on owning, caring for, breeding or boarding animals for Zhou if she is convicted.