SPCA conducts another puppy mill raid
Click here to view the photo gallery
From the outside, the bungalow and garage looked innocent enough, among other quaint homes, barns and silos, evergreens and twisting country roads in the quiet community south-east of Joliette in the Lanaudière region.
But as you approach the garage, the faint sounds of yapping and strong foul odour suggest something isn't right.
Inside the adjacent small shed, almost a hundred dogs were cooped up in cages made of chicken wire and wood, with two or three dogs crowded inside per cage, feces and dirt everywhere. The dogs' hair was matted, dirty and tangled.
Rebecca Aldworth of Humane Society International - Canada tells CJAD News the stench was overpowering and burned the eyes.
"The smell of ammonia in there is just overwhelming, we had to wear gas masks inside."
A veterinarian on-site said the dogs likely suffer from a number of health problems but didn't think any have to be put down.
"Inflammation to the eyes, lung problems,.... it was I'm sure irritating for your lungs and your nose and they're living in it," says Dr. Jean Dussereault.
The owner of the property left after the SQ and animal welfare inspectors served the search warrant.
The animals will be treated at the Montreal SPCA which will try to find homes for them.
This was the third raid in as many months, the previous ones in Rawdon and St. Lin. Almost three hundred dogs were rescued, many placed in foster or adoptive homes. In one case, the SPCA is fighting to get custody of the dogs.
Acting director Alanna Devine says they're hoping they can bring the owner to court and, down the road, bring this type of suffering to an end.
"The premier did say that he was willing to invest more money into this, have mandatory registration, and we're looking forward to really working with the provincial government and hoping they'll keep their word."
Traffic Map