SPCA seizes 89 cats and dogs from squalid conditions in Guysborough Co

June 25, 2009:  NOVA.SCOTIA (CBC) - RCMP and Nova Scotia SPCA officers seized 89 cats and dogs Wednesday from two Guysborough County homes owned by a mother and daughter after receiving dozens of complaints.

The animals were taken to the SPCAs Dartmouth shelter to be checked by a veterinarian and many will be put up for adoption.

SPCA officers had to don gas masks to seize 24 dogs and 40 cats from one small home in Port Felix owned by Christine DeYoung because the ammonia levels from animal urine were so high. They also seized about two dozen cats from her daughter's home.

"Its a mess, it's a real mess," SPCA provincial investigation officer Roger Joyce said Wednesday.

"A lot of people don't realize it because they are living in it. They just think it's a normal day, but when you or I go near the door and the smell gets to us, it just about knocks you over."

He said this appears to be a case of "animal hoarding" the women collected the animals over a period of time and didn't have the money to spay and neuter them.

Christine DeYoung cried as she watched the officers take her animals away, and said that losing her oldest dogs is like losing family.

"I only had two dogs and then they got together and they had pups and they kept multiplying. So, I didn't know what to do with them," she said.

DeYoung said she couldn't afford to spay and neuter them, but she said she fed them well and she thinks they are healthy..."  More

SPCA seizes 89 cats, dogs

By DAVENE JEFFREY and EVA HOARE

Nova Scotia SPCA officers seized 89 animals — 64 cats and 25 dogs — from two homes in Port Felix on Wednesday in a case that the agency believes is "animal hoarding."

That is where "people collect animals and they don’t have the money to spay and neuter the animals, so they breed out of control and the numbers get absolutely overwhelming for them," said SPCA president Sean Kelly.

Mr. Kelly said officers executed a search warrant at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the two Guysborough County houses following an investigation that was based on a complaint.

The two houses are owned by Christine DeYoung and an adult daughter. It’s too early in the probe to determine whether anyone from the family will be charged, Mr. Kelly said.

Some of the animals appeared to be worse for wear, he said in an interview. The animals were still being examined late Wednesday by vets at the SPCA’s facility in Burnside.

"The cats are in fairly rough shape. They look like there’s quite a few genetic abnormalities," Mr. Kelly said. "As of now, the dogs are very unsocialized and some do have medical issues."

On CBC-TV, officers equipped with breathing masks were shown carrying animals out of the house. Mr. Kelly said the ammonia levels inside were extremely high.

"Anytime that you have a high number (of animals) you get ammonia through the urine and feces of the animals," he said.

But Ms. DeYoung said the place would have smelled fine if the SPCA had held off until after lunch.

"The boxes were cleaned in the morning, at dinner time, suppertime and at night time."
The officers caught the two women by surprise, she said.

"I was all worked up. I didn’t know what to do."..." More