HANTSPORT, N.S. — Two Hantsport residents are facing animal cruelty charges after seven animals in medical distress were seized by the Nova Scotia SPCA.
NS SPCA chief inspector Jo-Anne Landsburg says the seizure happened Feb. 11 after RCMP called the SPCA regarding allegations that several animals appeared to be in distress at a Hantsport home where Loretta McLellan, 63, and Nicholas McLellan, 34, had the animals.
Landsburg says SPCA officers who arrived at the scene deemed both people unable to provide medical aid for the three dogs and four cats at the scene and then seized the animals and transported them to immediate medical attention.
She says six are now doing well, but one dog that is not recovering from more serious problems may not survive.
“We are sadly looking at different options for this dog, who is a senior dog and had more conditions that either weren’t being treated or taken care of. It was quite severe,” she says.
The accused are facing charges of causing the animals to be in distress, and failing to provide adequate medical attention for a wounded or ill animal, contrary to the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia.
Both are scheduled to appear in Windsor provincial court April 16.
No appeal of the charges has been filed to the Animal Cruelty Appeal Board, so the animals will remain in SPCA custody and will receive ongoing medical treatment and later be assessed for adoption placement.
Landsburg says the NS SPCA typically looks for convictions in such cases to lead to a lifetime ban on owning animals along with fines, or restitution paid to the NS SPCA for expenses its accrued in the transportation, vet care, or housing of seized animals.
“The most important thing is that anyone who is convicted not have opportunity to do this again,” she says.
Landsburg says the cats each had several dental and skin issues, and will remain in care along with the dogs as they recover.
She says it is likely they will all eventually be up for adoption, but that it is always a case-by-case basis.
“Once the animals have stabilized, the shelters will probably foster them out for adoption, or approve them for immediate adoption,” she says.
Suspected cases of animal cruelty can be reported to the SPCA toll-free by calling 1-888-703-7722.
