Dead animals discovered at vacated rental home

PROPERTY OWNER FOUND REMAINS WHILE CLEANING THE HOUSE

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The ASPCA has confirmed it is investigating after a number of animals were found dead in a vacated home east of Coaldale.

Roland Lines, communications manager for the Alberta Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, confirmed investigators are looking into an issue at a home near Stafford Lake east of Coaldale.

“One of our officers attended (Thursday) to retrieve the remains of the animals that were found,” he said. “(The officer) will send them to a veterinary pathologist for examination to try and establish a cause of death.”

Sandra Thompson is the landowner who made the discovery on her property while cleaning out the garage. She said the renter had been evicted in December for failing to pay rent.

This is the second time an animalrelated issue has occurred at the property in the past few months.

In January, Thompson was told by a neighbour the renter had not been seen for a while but that they could hear a dog howling in the home.

When Thompson entered the home, she encountered an abandoned dog and cat.

“They must have been at least five days on their own with no water or food,” she said, adding the animals were handed over to the ASPCA.

Lines confirmed an initial call back in January regarding a dog and cat that were still alive but which had been abandoned at the property.

Earlier this week, Thompson was able to get back into the home to begin the process of cleaning up.

She picked up a box that was taped shut. When she opened it, she was shocked by what she found.

“There were three dead kittens in there,” she said. “There was food and poop in there, and claw marks showing where they’d tried to get out. They were frozen solid.”

She found two more deceased cats, one in a box and one in a bag she at first mistook as a bag of animal waste.

And then later, while disposing of trash, she found two deceased puppies in another box. She said she is unsure if there were more animals in the garage.

“I might have thrown the rest out,” she said. “I didn’t look in all the boxes.”

Charges could be laid if it is determined that the animals died of abuse or neglect, and if a suspect could be identified.

“Trying to establish both a cause of death and a time of death are things we’ll hope to get back from the pathologist,” said Lines. “Depending how that evidence comes out will help us establish if there was wrongdoing attached to the animals.”

Thompson said she is frustrated because she had spoken with the renter about the animals when they were alive.

“I had offered to take them to the ASPCA,” she said. “And instead, they decided to abandon her and then freeze the puppies. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Lines said the incident highlights the importance of people getting in touch with the ASPCA if they suspect animal abuse or neglect may be taking place.

“If animals are abandoned in a rented property, it is a situation where we can respond in the vast majority of cases, the animals are healthy and we can find new homes for them. We understand landlords may not be equipped to deal with animals left behind, so for them to know they can contact us, it’s important. We can help them find a place for the animals.

Thompson said the experience has made her rethink renting out her property in the future.

“I’m moving in,” she said. “I’m not renting it again. It’s too fearful for me.”

She believes the renter may have relocated to the Vulcan area.

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