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HomeNewsAnimal Welfare Service Looking Into Complaints Of Abuse Against Lakefield Business

Animal Welfare Service Looking Into Complaints Of Abuse Against Lakefield Business

PETERBOROUGH-Peterborough County OPP says allegations relating to a local animal rescue are under inspection by Animal Welfare Services (AWS).

Allegations of animal cruelty were brought forward to the OPP relating to local animal rescue, 4 Lucky Paws in Lakefield. AWS was immediately contacted and has commenced an investigation into the allegations according to police. The OPP says it will collaborate with and provide support to AWS as required.

In Ontario, AWS within the Ministry of the Solicitor General is responsible for enforcing the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.

Officials with the Ministry told Kawartha 411 News they have undertaken an inspection not an “investigation”.

“The ministry can confirm that Animal Welfare Services has received multiple complaints related to 4 Lucky Paws Animal Rescue. Given this matter is part of an active inspection, it would be inappropriate to provide further detail,” said Brent Ross, Communications, Ministry of the Solicitor General.

A Lawyer working for the company says the allegations are false.

“The allegations against 4 Lucky Paws are completely false and are being put forward maliciously by disgruntled former volunteers. They have made outrageous false allegations online and to third parties and have shared videos that are intentionally misleading in that they depict conditions that existed briefly and were caused by the defamers when they were briefly left in charge. To be clear, the videos do not accurately depict normal conditions at 4 Lucky Paws, which does not house dogs long-term. All of this is being done with the express purpose of injuring 4 Lucky Paws.” said Asher Honickman, Legal Counsel for 4 Lucky Paws said. “4 Lucky Paws and its owner have dedicated themselves tirelessly to rescuing puppies, nursing them back to health and placing them with foster families. There are, unfortunately, many sick dogs in this community. As such, all dogs that enter 4LP are placed in quarantine for two weeks. Some of these dogs are too sick to survive, but 4LP fights to save as many as possible and works with 3 incredible vet clinics to this end. All of the dogs that pass through 4LP are treated humanely and with dignity, and none are kept in crates for hours on end. 4 Lucky Paws takes pride in the work it has done and the many dogs it has saved and for whom it has managed to find homes.”

Honickman continued saying, “The defamers already contacted Animal Welfare Services, which made a surprise visit to 4 Lucky Paws and found no evidence of any wrongdoing and made no orders. Animal Welfare Services was provided with relevant records and 4 Lucky Paws continues to co-operate with any follow-up questions they have. 4 Lucky Paws and its principal are in the process of taking appropriate legal action to repair the damage being caused to their reputation.”

4 Lucky Paws says in the past 8 months they have seen a total of 97 dogs come through the doors and some of the animals are ill or injured and in need of veterinary care.

In a statement on Facebook the company stated in part:

“The accusations being thrown around are results of individuals who were trusted with care and involvement in the rescue, sadly when individuals choose to video an animal dying there are definitely intentions and they’re not good ones. When the truck arrives, it often comes in the middle of the night, traveling 30 hours with 4+ stops. Dogs are taken to emergency immedietaly when necessary but generally, if they need something asap they stay in Winnipeg and don’t travel. The next day dogs start shuttling to their foster homes, this always looks different depending on where the foster is but within a week everyone is placed. We personally have always had fosters, the conditions in videos and photos are NEVER a result of our actions, these are set up and absolutely horrendous. Animal welfare as well as opp have been involved and have received medical files showing the vet care given as well as the conditions that fosters SLEEP in and only sleep during their stay. Dogs are never kept in crates for hours on end, when we have a larger number of dogs we have volunteers that come, clearly some trusted more than others.”

Former volunteers who contacted Kawartha 411 say something more sinister is going on.
“She brings them back home under the guise of rescue and .. sells the ones that survive and lets the rest die.” Danielle Roberts told Kawartha 411 News. “We called the police and the police have yet to intervene. It is a horrendous situation.”
None of that has been confirmed by Animal Welfare Service but they are looking into the situation.

The chief animal welfare inspector and provincial animal welfare inspectors, including inspectors with specialized expertise in livestock, zoos, aquariums, and equines, provide enforcement across Ontario. They carry out inspections, respond to concerns, conduct investigations, as well as provide outreach and education on animal care best practices.

Abuse and neglect of any animal is not tolerated in Ontario. If you think an animal is in distress or is being abused, call 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).

This story has been updated with comments from the lawyer for 4 Lucky Paws.

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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