Mom, daughter charged with animal cruelty again

16 dogs seized from property in Quesnel were found housed in filthy, small crates

HANNA A mother and daughter are once again at the centre of an animal cruelty case in B.C.

Karin Adams and her daughter, Catherine, who were already under a 20-year ban on owning animals from a conviction in B.C. in 2015, are facing new charges of animal cruelty from the B.C. SPCA.

Catherine is also due back in an Alberta court in August for sentencing after being found guilty in February on two counts of animal cruelty in Hanna.

In the latest case, the B.C. SPCA confirmed Wednesday that 16 dogs in distress had been seized from a property in Quesnel.

The dogs — including German shepherds, a Yorkshire terrier, a retriever, bull terriers, a standard poodle, Portuguese water dogs, a Pekingese, corgi-border collie crosses and miniature poodles — were found in crates too small for their sizes and lived on feces- and urine-soaked matting.

The area they were housed in was also poorly ventilated, with the animals having little or no access to water.

“It is extremely frustrating when we deal with repeat offenders, particularly those who breach the terms of their sentencing,” Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the B.C. SPCA, wrote in a news release announcing the seizures.

“However, we are now pleased that the dogs are now safe and are getting the attention and care they need.”

In 2015, the mother and daughter pleaded guilty in an animal cruelty case involving more than 100 animals, which the SPCA seized from their property in 2014.

Karin was sentenced to 15 days in jail and two years of probation at the time, while Catherine received six-month conditional house arrest and three years of probation.

On Feb. 28, 2018, Catherine was found guilty on two counts of animal cruelty while Karin was found not guilty after the Crown failed to prove both women lived at a residence near Hanna.

Catherine, due back in court Aug. 22 for sentencing, asked at the time of the verdict if she could get the seized animals back, noting “it’s my right to try to get them back.”

Catherine faces a maximum penalty of five years in custody in Alberta.