15 people arrested following protest against dogsled tour company near Canmore: RCMP

Canmore RCMP arrested 15 people who were protesting on the premises of a dogsled tour company on Saturday.

Police said they were called to Mad Dogs & Englishmen Expeditions Inc., east of Canmore, at 8:20 a.m. after about 30 people broke into the kennels to protest the dogs’ treatment.

“There was no aggression but it’s a criminal offence to force your way onto any commercial property. The lock was cut, the fence was damaged and these people had broken into the premises.”

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Fifteen people — 14 adults and one youth — were arrested and face criminal charges of break and enter to commit mischief, according to RCMP.

Police said the accused, who they aren’t naming, were released and are scheduled to appear at Canmore Provincial Court on Jan. 15, 2020.

Activists protesting animal conditions

RCMP said they only attended a protest at Mad Dogs & Englishmen Expeditions Inc.

According to animal activist Trevor Miller, however, protesters also went to Howling Dog Tours on Saturday.

Miller said the protesters claim dogs are kept on short tethers for long periods of time in all types of weather — “basically, no protection against the elements,” he said Saturday.

Company responses

Mad Dogs & Englishmen Expeditions Inc. declined to comment for Global News.

Howling Dog Tours said in a statement on Saturday that the well-being of the animals is paramount.

Howling Dog Tours said it has had regular inspections from the Alberta SPCA and provincial government.

“Howling Dog Tours not only meets all regulatory requirements but exceeds them in many ways,” the company statement said. “It is unfortunate that a group of people, who know that no laws are being broken, can protest this way to push their values.”

SPCA weighs in

The Alberta SPCA said it received complaints this year about the condition of dogs in the sled dog industry, but peace officers “have not found there to be distress as defined by the Animal Protection Act.”

Saturday’s protests were dubbed “Liberation Lockdown,” which was the second event of its kind after a protest at a southern Alberta turkey farm on Sept. 2.