Man facing animal cruelty charges sells animals at auction
Alberta SPCA says it is aware of situation at event in Olds ‘and has actioned an investigation’
The Alberta SPCA says it’s investigating a weekend auction in Olds, where animals owned by Ty Marshall — who faces animal cruelty charges following the seizure of 204 animals from his property last year — were being sold.
“I can advise that our agency was made aware of this situation and has actioned an investigation,” Terra Johnston, executive director of the Alberta SPCA, said in an email. “There is no further information available at this early stage of the investigation.”
Alberta SPCA officers seized 131 dogs, 62 rabbits, eight cats and three tortoises from a Milo-area property in April 2017 and charged Marshall with causing or allowing an animal to be in distress, and failing to provide proper care for injured or ill animals.
Marshall is scheduled to appear next in Lethbridge provincial court May 11.
Sharon Dacen, who monitored the auction with a member of the Calgary Animal Rights Effort, said many animals lacked water in their pens or stalls, while birds appeared “overcrowded” in cramped spaces.
Marshall said he attended the auction, hosted by Central Alberta Auction Services, as a seller rather than an organizer, where he sold miniature horses, ducks and chickens.
He said he’s been auctioning animals for years without issue.
“I’ve never been prohibited from selling animals. I’ve never been restricted from selling animals,” said Marshall. “Me selling animals, this isn’t news. I sell animals every day. I’ve sold animals for the last 20years.
“It’s just people who don’t know what they ’re talking about, get behind the keyboard on Facebook and they think it’s a big story.”
In a statement to Post media, the company behind the Olds auction said it conducts exotic animal, bird and livestock auctions throughout central Alberta.
“We have strict crate, feeding and water requirements that sellers must adhere to. Animals and birds must be healthy or we turn them away,” Central Alberta Auction Services stated.
“Many consignors had to open their crates and provide feed and water to their consignments or they would have been turned away. Livestock (cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep) must undergo a government of Alberta, Alberta Livestock Inspection by a livestock inspector upon arrival to our sales.”
A spokesperson for Livestock Identification Services, which only inspects horses and cattle, confirmed one of its inspectors was present at the auction but “didn’t notice anything bad.”
The auction company said Marshall “brings in a large selection of animals, all of the highest quality and health” and that his animals “are some of the most sought after at our sales.”
Another auction by the group is scheduled for May 19 in Red Deer.
Marshall added that as many as 24 dogs seized from him last year
I’ve never been restricted from selling animals. Me selling animals, this isn’t news. I sell animals every day. I’ve sold animals for the last 20 years.
by the SPCA, which were under a year old, have since been returned to him.
Last year, Marshall’s application to operate a dog breeding and sales business, housing upwards of 50 adults dogs and 50 puppies per week, was denied by Vulcan County’s planning commission and the decision upheld by an appeal board.
Marshall formerly owned a pet store in Okotoks called Animal House, which closed in February 2017.
“There was no animal cruelty. We’ve always worked with veterinarians,” he said.
“I had an entire staff taking care of all the animals, it’s not me with a whole bunch of dogs in cages. Anything that needs medical attention got medical attention. Sure, we had more than the average person has for dogs but that’s not cruelty, having more than two dogs.”
Dacen, who has been fostering rescue dogs for five years and volunteers at animal care agencies, said two of the dogs seized from Marshall last year that later came into her care suffered from medical problems such as ear and yeast infections, mastitis and cut claws.