Monday, February 03, 2003
The Alberni Clayoquot SPCA is now facing accusations that it has known about the abuse at a recently raided puppy mill for years.

Last week, 36 Lhasa Apso dogs were seized from Alberni breeders Cliff and Ellen Elliott.

The animals were found living in their own excrement. One dog was found dead in a cage and, since then, another had to be euthanized because of neurological problems.

One of the dogs has been left permanently blind from an untreated eye infection. The other dogs are responding well to treatment.

The SPCA says it acted immediately on an anonymous tip last week. But several people have come forward saying they have been reporting the Elliotts for cruelty and neglect for some time.

Dale McInnes and Laurie DeRycke bought their dog Missy from the Elliots four years ago. They were horrified at the conditions she was living in and say they reported the breeders to the SPCA.

"When we bought our dog the place was absolutely filthy in there," McInnes says. "We were quite disgusted with the conditions the dogs were in and we reported it."

The SPCA admits it did receive one report from a breeder in Parksville four years ago who wouldn't give the name or address of a puppy mill on Vancouver Island. Without that specific information, the SPCA could not investigate.

The SPCA also received a report from the only other Lhasa Apso breeder in Port Alberni. Heather Graham filed a report against the Elliots, but the SPCA said it had nothing to do with animal cruelty -- it was a dispute over who owned a particular dog.

Graham says she has heard complaints about the Elliots before.

"Oh yes," she says. "But I can't prove nothing so I'm not saying anything."

Graham did say something to Parksville Spaniel breeder Heather Vallance two years ago.

Vallance says she complained to the Parksville SPCA after Graham showed her letters she had written to the Port Alberni SPCA about the Elliots.

Judy Stone of the SPCA watchdog group Animal Advocates of B.C. says it also believes the SPCA didn't act for some time after hearing reports of abuse at the puppy mill.

The SPCA maintains it acted immediately as soon as it knew about the abuse.

No charges have been laid yet against the Elliotts. The SPCA is likely waiting until it has completed medical assessments on all the animals.

A conviction under the provincial Animal Cruelty Act can result in fines of up to $2,000 and up to two years jail time.

Two more Vancouver Island breeders are currently under investigation for animal abuse.

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