The Winnipeg Humane Society expects all 68 dogs seized Wednesday from what animal services called inhumane conditions in a south Winnipeg home will make “great adoption candidates.”
While some of the canines have dental issues and were shaking, they were very social when they came into the Winnipeg Humane Society and wanted to be held, CEO Jessica Miller said Thursday.
Miller said in past situations, some animals taken in large seizures couldn’t be put up for adoption.
“We’ve had cases where we’ve had all different kind of species, and sometimes they are so feral, unsocial, or medically unwell they can’t move forward,” she said.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case with the newly acquired dogs, who range in age from puppies to seniors, and include pregnant females.
The dogs were removed Wednesday morning from a home on Brentlawn Boulevard, in the Richmond West area, the city’s animal services said later that day.
Winnipeg police were called to the home for a well-being call and discovered the dogs.
On Thursday, Miller said it was a case of someone who got themselves “in over their head.”
“A lot of these cases are socioeconomic. There could be a mental health crisis,” she said.
“Sometimes they are just purely abuse — breeding, backyard breeder, puppy mill — [but] I don’t think that was the case.”
Miller said she panicked when the dogs first came in because donations are down and the shelter is falling short on its budget. During a news conference Wednesday, she estimated treating the 68 dogs could cost up to $150,000.
But now the phones are ringing off the hook and more than $70,000 has been raised in the last 24 hours, she said Thursday.
Some of the dogs could be ready for adoption as early as next week, she said.
“I think we might have seen the worst of the worst, and we’re going to see a great outcome,” said Miller.
Andrew Clarke, the director of investigations and emergency response at the humane society, said it’s the largest seizure of animals he’s been involved with.
As for the owner, “there won’t be any charges from the provincial body. That does not mean that [City of Winnipeg] animal services, who had the Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw, may not have charges,” he said.
Winnipeg Police Service Const. Claude Chancy said Wednesday no criminal charges are pending.
Christiana Bratiotis, an associate professor of social work at the University of British Columbia whose research has focused on hoarding, said animal hoarding is a misunderstood topic. Large seizures can be devastating for owners, she said.
“Often the separation of the person from their animals is a very difficult emotional process for the person who hoards animals,” Bratiotis said.
“Even if they are not providing the best care, their belief system, and it really is a distorted belief,” is that they have the ability “to provide the best possible care for these animals.”
Meanwhile, Miller said it’s been emotional to see the support from the community.
“To have the community stand behind us every time something like this happens and we’re able to bring it public, I’m so thankful.”