http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
By Michael Hall

Silvia Rutledge got all but one of her animals back. However, the SPCA will proceed with animal cruelty charges against her.
She could face a maximum penalty of up to six months imprisonment, a $2,000 fine and be prohibited from owning animals.
Eileen Drever, a senior animal protection officer for the SPCA, expects charges to be presented to Crown Counsel in the next few weeks.
SPCA officials inspected Do-Little Farms, a hobby farm and petting zoo, on 248 Street on Thursday. SPCA constables seized 130 animals from the farm on July 26, including many ducks and rabbits, three lemurs, a reindeer and a pot-bellied pig.
According to SPCA, the 17-year-old pot-bellied pig, Mooch (Vietnamese for Number 1), was underweight. So was a pregnant adult rabbit, which gave birth to five bunnies the day she was seized. All of them died.
Following a complaint, the SPCA removed the animals because of poor husbandry and lack of adequate shelter. Most did not have shelter. Some were kept in crowded pens. Some were living in feces. Many did not have access to fresh water. The reindeer had to have three and a half inches cut from its overgrown hooves.
All of the animals — including goats, dogs, ponies, donkeys, chinchillas, guinea pigs and a parakeet — will be returned to Rutledge but the reindeer.
“The reindeer won’t be released at this point,” Drever said. “It’s still being monitored.”
It’s putting weight on slowly, she added, and being monitored by a veterinarian.
Rutledge, a Maple Ridge municipal employee, agreed to pay close to $5,000 in boarding costs and veterinarian and transit fees to get her animals back. She was to collect them yesterday (Friday).
As part of the conditions to have them returned, Rutledge had to improve her farm to meet SPCA standards. Rutledge, her daughters and friends spent the past two weeks cleaning up the farm, building and erecting shelters, pens and fencing for the animals.
Most of the materials were donated, while volunteers helped do the work.
“I’ve had some awesome support from the community,” Rutledge said. “I think people realize I love these animals.”
She had a “meltdown” when they were taken away. “I’m still in a bit of shock.”
Rutledge was given the chance to pick up the animals herself to save money. She was to pay $2,500 of the fees for her animals on Friday. Deductions will be made from her paycheques in subsequent weeks to pay off the remainder.
“I can’t wait to see my kids,” Rutledge said of her animals.
Especially Mooch. “They [SPCA officers] decided he’s very lonely and needed to be back with his companions,” said Rutledge, who owns another pot-bellied pig.
Most of the animals are pets. Some travel with the petting zoo.
Rutledge planned to have a party Friday for the friends and family who helped her. “It’s going to be an awesome day,” she said.
Drever said Rutledge has improved her farm a great deal. Still, “We are going to closely monitor her animal husbandry practices.”