Man whose dogs were seized loved animals

The report of the SPCA seizing 46 dogs north of Williams Lake was an exaggeration.

I was at the property on two different occasions and yes, the gentleman had too many dogs. Yes, he should have had the dogs neutered.

I probably spent two to 2 1/2 hours there during my two visits, I did not see one dog that appeared to be sick or underfed.

I said to the man: “You must spend a lot of money on dog food.”

He said, “Yes I do. I don’t smoke or drink. I spend my money on feeding my dogs.”

The man loved his dogs. That was plain to see and that’s probably why he had too many. He had names for them all and it was easy to see that the dogs loved him.

As stated in the report, the dogs were outdoor breeds of dogs. Sled dogs do not need a furnace.

The statement that the dogs had no shelter is untrue. There were a couple of sheds they could run in and a roof over the side of the house, as well as dogs being allowed in the house.

If the SPCA thinks this dog owner should be charged for not providing proper shelter for the dogs, then the SPCA should round up all of the sled dogs, coyotes and wolves in B.C. and have them put in animal shelters. Now that sounds ridiculous but no more than these charges against this man.

The statement about poor sanitation is debatable. If that was poor sanitation, then every farmers’ corals are poor sanitation. I did not see a dog there that looked like it laid in dung.

The statement that it was freezing is laughable. Those dogs are outdoor dogs, that’s the breed of them, for they are well insulated.

To say the dogs were terrified of human contact is another untrue statement. To see the way those dogs loved that man, and to say that they are afraid of a human, is totally untrue.

I was a stranger there and the dogs were not afraid of me.

I know a family from Prince George who got a dog from there and they are very happy with it.

The reason I didn’t get a dog from the man is that I was looking for a house dog with short hair and not a long hair outside dog.

To say this man should be charged with animal cruelty and the possibility of a jail sentence, is ridiculous. To say this man should not be allowed to own a dog again is not right.

Trust me, this man loved his dogs. What about the psychological distress to this human being to not be allowed to own a dog again?

I do agree that this man had too many dogs but I could also see that he has a big heart for dogs.

Perhaps he should be restricted to two neutered dogs.

I had never seen this man before and probably never will again but I’d be more than willing to speak on his behalf in court. Ross Roach Prince George