CFJC TV NEWS @ 11:00 (Kamloops) - Thursday, July 29, 2004
Lorry-Ann Austin: The SPCA has seized 35 animals from an award-winning Barrier dog breeder. Although the SPCA has not released the name of the breeder Bill Pieper of Wynmast Estate Mastiffs told us his acreage was raided by Animal Protection Officers yesterday. The breeder is claiming the SPCA acted too fast while the SPCA maintains it’s first priority has always been the protection of animals.
Seen here in happier times, breeder Bill Pieper refused last summer to abandon his dogs as wildfire raged around Barriere.
The championship mastiff breeder’s website shows dogs in their prime. A dedicated dog owner, Pieper once brought his prized mastiffs to Royal Inland Hospital to provide therapy to patients but the story today is very different.
Kent Kokoska BCSPCA Special Provincial Constable: Occasionally animal owners with the best intentions, ah run into situations that are beyond their control it’s overwhelming. We have to ensure that there’s an adequate level of care for animals but where that level of care can’t be met occasionally we’re required to move in ah, with further legal action which is what occurred in this ah circumstance.
Lorry-Ann Austin: The SPCA took custody of 29 English Mastiffs, 5 cats and 1 small dog but today dogs still roam at the breeder’s acreage. Twenty mastiffs, mostly older dogs were left behind after the seizure.
Jennifer Gore executive director Kamloops SPCA: The owner has received orders for the care of those animals and we will be following up on that.
Lorry-Ann Austin: The SPCA says these outbuildings and kennels are in poor shape. They cite hazardous and extremely filthy conditions as the reason for taking custody of the 29 mastiffs.
Austin knocking on Pieper’s door.
Lorry-Ann Austin: Mr. Pieper. Hello. Unfortunately Mr. Pieper wasn’t home when we stopped by Wynmast Estate Kennels. He did say in an interview over the phone yesterday that the SPCA had seized 29 of his dogs and they left 20 others behind. Mr. Pieper said the SPCA did not give him a chance to make some minor repairs to kennels and to attend to some minor medical problems that his dogs were having.
Jennifer Gore: Actually I can’t comment on the specific timeline because the investigation is still pending ah, proceeding and I don’t want to compromise that at all ah, but we, our first priority whenever we go in and look at a situation we feel the animal’s welfare not, their needs are not being met the first priority is to work with the owner.
Lorry-Ann Austin: We caught up with breeder Bill Pieper later in the day at this café. Admitting he’s fallen on hard times of late Pieper says things were improving. He says he’s completely devastated by the seizure of his dogs but could say little else.
Bill Pieper: I’d love to be able to say something to you but I just can’t until after I’ve talked to my lawyer. He’s advised me that ah, he wants to see me before I say anything to the media.
Lorry-Ann Austin: Today the seized mastiffs are resting comfortably at an undisclosed location. Pieper may face charges under the Protection of Cruelty to Animals Act, or he may get his dogs back if he makes the necessary improvements to his property. Lorry-Ann Austin TV 7 news centre.
Lorry-Ann Austin: The SPCA is hoping the community will come forward to help them care for the 29 large breed dogs. Mastiffs can weigh up to 90 kilograms and are the size of a small pony. The SPCA is seeking financial donations for the mastiff’s medical care and food.