edmontonsun.com

Mon, June 5, 2006
More rescues from dog property

By KRISTEN VERNON, EDMONTON SUN

Nine puppies were reunited with their mother after an animal control officer rescued four more dogs from a property overrun by dogs, including some cannibalizing each other.

Wetaskiwin County animal control bylaw officer Jody Napier's rescue effort started Friday, after the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized six dogs from the squalor on a property just south of Buck Lake, 151 km southwest of Edmonton.

Napier went to the property on Friday with food and water and convinced Donna McPherson, 69, who rents the property, to let her take 24 puppies.

She returned yesterday with more dog food and was able to remove three more puppies and the mother to nine pups she had rescued from the property Friday.

"What I am personally trying to do is just save some dogs and hopefully help a human being in the process," Napier said.

She said she is trying to get help for McPherson.

She estimates that there are at least 60 dogs still on the property.

Many of the dogs are wild, though Napier said there are still salvageable dogs on the property.

A lot of the dogs are border collie crosses, but there are also Shih Tzus and terriers.

The rescued puppies have been treated by Dr. Fiona Kilpatrick at the Wetaskiwin Animal Clinic, before being taken in by various animal rescue groups.

The Humane Animal Rescue Team took in 17 pups from Friday's rescue efforts, and took the mama dog rescued yesterday to be reunited with her young litter.

The Northern Alberta Society for Animal Protection took in six puppies, including one that has already been adopted.

The SPCA, which is investigating the property, couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.