SALMON ARM OBSERVER
By Tracy Hughes
A Silver Creek couple is under investigation for charges of animal cruelty after BC SPCA special constables seized 29 dogs from their property on March 12.
Charges could be laid under the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act or the Criminal Code of Canada, however, that decision will be made once Crown Counsel reviews the case. It will be a few weeks before the Crown makes a determination.
But one of the owners of the seized dogs denies they were mistreated. Vi Robinson says the dogs taken from her were adequately cared for and were not in poor health.
The SPCA officers, accompanied by a veterinarian, examined 32 dogs on the Brown Road property and they found 29 of the small breed dogs to be in sufficient distress to warrant removal. Six of the dogs are puppies, 23 are adults and breeds range from Yorkshire terriers, Bichons, Chihuahuas, Shih Tsus and Pekingese-crosses.
“The animals were in small enclosures, with poor ventilation, and appeared to be suffering from a range of problems including skin conditions, lice, ear mites, infected teeth, tumours, excessive matting, badly overgrown nails and possible tapeworm,” says Craig Daniell, general manager of cruelty investigations. On further assessment of the animals by veterinarians, some dogs were found to have dislocated joints and one appears to have a limb fracture. The dogs did not appear to be suffering from starvation and all are expected to recover with medical treatment.
Robinson freely admits that most of the dogs were not pets, but were part of a breeding operation. She says she and her husband John have been breeding dogs for roughly 27 years, although her involvement has decreased as her eyesight has dwindled.
“I try to sell them to supplement my pension...For them to come into my private property like Hitler and take them like that, it isn’t right. The dogs were crying when they left,” she says. “They are making it out that I’m a rotten person. I’m not.”
She denies many of the medical conditions alleged by the SPCA, saying many dogs in the province have worms and fleas.
“If anyone says they weren’t being fed, it is an outright lie. Maybe it isn’t right to lock them in kennels, but they all had shelter.”
She says the dogs are not clipped during the winter, but were due for their spring grooming beginning in April.
Robinson says she does not keep track of how many dogs she sells each year. She would sell Yorkshire terrier puppies for $500 each, while most other breeds went for $250.
Despite the revenue generated by selling puppies, Robinson says she would have shut down her breeding business if the SPCA had only asked her.
“They didn’t have to come in here and take everything. I’m 73-years-old. I could have closed it down myself if that is what they wanted.”
Puppies from the Robinson’s operation were sold to pet stores in Salmon Arm and Vernon or to pet brokers at the Lower Mainland. She also sold privately through advertisements.
“I was selling to Critters but I heard they were saying bad things about me, so I didn’t sell to them anymore,” she said.
Ed Parent, owner of Critters, tells a different story. He says he purchased one litter from Robinson, but the puppies were in such poor condition he refused to buy from her anymore.
“We did some research on them and were not happy with what we found,” says Parent. “It was bad news.”
The BC SPCA has been investigating the Robinson’s operation since January after receiving information from an animal rights organization.
“In order to be able to search someone’s property, we have to have sufficient evidence to get a justice to issue a warrant,” says Lorie Chortyk, community relations manager for the BC SPCA.
The SPCA has recently restructured their operations for animal cruelty investigations and they say tips from the public about suspected cases of cruelty will be taken very seriously.
“We are putting people on notice. If you are mistreating animals, we will find you,” says Chortyk. “We’d ask the public to contact us if they have any suspicions.”
The seized animals were taken to the Kelowna SPCA shelter, as the Shuswap branch did not have sufficient room or resources to take the animals or provide the assessment and treatment for all the dogs.
It will be some time before the animals could be considered for adoption. As they are part of an ongoing case, they currently are not the property of the SPCA. The animals will also not be adopted until full medical assessments determine the extent of care required by potential owners.
If found guilty of animal cruelty, the owners of the dogs could face a jail term, a fine and be prohibited from owning animals for a specific length of time.
In the meantime, Robinson says she will appeal to get some of the dogs returned.
“I don’t need them all back, but I’d like some, especially Cally, my house dog. He was my pal.”

© Copyright 2003 Salmon Arm Observer