Of the 29 dogs seized from a Squamish breeder in November, 19 – plus 14 of their newly-born puppies – have been ordered returned, despite some of the other dogs on the property being kept in vehicles without food or water and smelling of feces.
The decision was made Feb. 2 by the BC Farm Industry Review Board, a tribunal that acts as an alternative to the courts for SPCA review decisions.
The animals were seized by the SPCA Nov. 30 in a raid that was also attended by the Squamish RCMP. The SPCA issued a review decision under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Dec. 16 stating it would not return the animals, prompting the appeal.
The panel determined that 10 of the dogs found inside vehicles on the property were being neglected and will be adopted out by the SPCA. The panel, however, found that 19 dogs kept inside the house were healthy and well looked after, leading to their return.
The dogs are a collection of Coton de Tulears, Old English Sheepdogs, Bearded Collies, Tibetan Spaniels, a Havanese and a Shih-tzu.
“Given the facts presented to me, I believe it’s not appropriate to return any of the dogs, but I respect the decision by BC FIRB [BC Farm Industry Review Board],” Marcie Moriarty, the SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer, told The Squamish Chief.
The SPCA is planning to recommend animal cruelty charges against the breeder, Neddy Tsin, also referred to as Neddy Tsin-Minions, according to the panel, Moriarty said.
After hearing testimony from the SPCA, the panel decided 10 of the dogs on the property were in distress.
Two sheepdogs were found inside a car, smelling strongly of feces and without food or water, according to the testimony, which also included that the site of one dog’s recent ear surgery was painful and expressing pus, while its gums were ulcerated and nails too long.
Another eight dogs – two large and six small – were found inside an SUV in a garage, again, without food or water, according to the report. One was desperately thirsty, the SPCA said, and tried to pull an animal control officer towards a puddle, while another was described as emaciated and others had ear infections and dental disease.
“The dogs were dirty and matted with one dog suffering from a burr painfully irritating its eye... There were urine and feces in the car and on some of the dogs,” a summary of the SPCA’s information in the panel’s decision reads.
The panel decided that the breeder would likely continue to neglect these dogs by keeping them in vehicles and not providing enough water and, therefore, will not be getting these dogs back.
However, 19 of the dogs, mostly mothers, young dogs and puppies, were found to be in good shape inside the breeder’s house, which was clean. There was water and good-quality food available, as well as blankets on the floor.
Although these dogs were initially removed by the SPCA, the panel found that they were not in distress and should be brought back. These dogs, plus all 14 puppies born at the SPCA, will be returned.
Although Tsin told The Squamish Chief, “Sorry, we are not talking to the media,” she did testify to the panel.
Tsin told the panel the eight dogs were kept inside the car so as not to contaminate the other dogs inside the house. She said she planned to groom the dogs to remove the burrs in their hair, adding the car had towels inside so the dogs would stay warm and dry, the windows were down for ventilation and they weren’t kept in there long. Her husband checked on them before leaving for work in the morning and if they weren’t well, he would take them to see a veterinarian in Squamish.
For the two sheepdogs, she said she rolled down the car window part way and the two dogs were going to be brought in soon when she was finished tending to the puppies inside. They were allowed outside to exercise regularly, she said, and none were extremely thin or unhealthy.
Further, a veterinarian in Squamish told the panel the dogs he saw were healthy and clean, with no issue other than grooming.
The SPCA is concerned about the dogs and their puppies being returned in light of its report of the others being in distress.
“Looking at the context, [the return] is very concerning,” said Moriarty.
Without a kennel licence, which Tsin doesn’t have, the maximum number of dogs allowed on a property in Squamish is three.
District of Squamish animal control staff, with support from the RCMP, served a compliance letter to Tsin requesting that she comply with housing a maximum of three dogs, and advising that she cannot operate a kennel with the current zoning of her property.
“Legally, the owner has 30 days to comply, following which the District will review its options to determine next steps if compliance isn’t achieved,” said Christina Moore, spokesperson for the District of Squamish. Moriarty said before buying a puppy, it’s important to ensure a breeder has a kennel licence and to check the socialization program.
