Peace Arch News
Owner of seized animals speaks out

Darcy Chrysler questions why her copy of a search warrant has parts cut out, and why officials’ photos include areas the animals did not access.
Brian Giebelhaus photo
Text By Tracy Holmes - Peace Arch News
Published: April 30, 2009 3:00 PM
Updated: April 30, 2009 4:01 PM

The woman suing the SPCA for the return of animals seized from a South Surrey property admitted this week her horses’ hoofs needed trimming.

But Darcy Chrysler insists that was the only thing wrong with the collection of animals in her care.

“Things they’re saying is just a bunch of malarky,” Chrysler said this week of allegations of neglect made by SPCA officials.

“It’s all a setup, I’m telling you that right now.”

Calls to the SPCA were not returned by Peace Arch News’ press deadline Thursday.

Eighteen animals – five horses, four dogs, four gerbils, three cats and two turkeys – were seized March 14 from the 18787 16 Ave. property Chrysler calls home.

One of the dogs, a three-year-old malamute named Starman, has since died in veterinary care. It was that news late last week that prompted Chrysler to contact the Peace Arch News to tell her side of the story.

According to the society, Starman was among animals seized after a citizen raised the alarm about their health. The horses were in the worst shape, officials said.

The other animals were seized for reasons ranging from being underweight and caked in mud to having no access to water or being kept in an area with poor ventilation.

Chrysler disputes all but the one allegation, and said she believes she has been targeted as a result of investigations concerning her ex-husband’s care of animals. The horse in the worst shape came into her care only a week before the seizure, she added, and she was “going to bring him back up.”

“They’ve made out that every one of those animals was not being fed. My animals never go without food or water, ever. Everybody that knows me is well aware of that,” she said.

Chrysler questioned why her copy of the search warrant has parts cut out, and why photos taken by the SPCA at the scene include areas to which the animals had no access. She also wonders why the condition report on Starman states he was taken due to no water, then clarifies he had a “few inches of dirty murky water” but knocked it over while officers were on scene.

Chrysler’s statement of claim, filed April 14 in New Westminster Supreme Court, alleges “defamation of character, false accusations and lies, false pretenses, entrapment, tampering with and concealing evidence, withholding evidence... invasion of privacy,” and more in connection with the March 14 seizure.

She also accuses investigators of posing as buyers of puppies she had for sale so they could track her down, providing false statements to the Peace Arch News and delaying a veterinarian’s examination of the animals.

Chrysler insists Starman was healthy before he was taken, and that she should have been called when he fell ill.

“I should have been notified immediately when he took ill so I could have been with him,” she said.

“Instead he dies with complete strangers. None of (the animals) were dying in my care.”