WESTCOAST NEWS
Pair face 13 new charges over neglected chihuahuas

Chilliwack Times

November 12, 2004

CHILLIWACK - Two "dog hoarders" are back in hot water after failing to care for a van full of chihuahuas.

In June, Victor Armstrong and Karen Raffle pled guilty to causing animals to be in distress after the SPCA pulled 10 badly neglected dogs from their property.

That court order also required prearranged visits by SPCA inspectors-which the couple ultimately refused to allow. Using a warrant, officials revisited the alleged hoarders' home on July 20 and found more than a dozen small dogs in various states of distress. Veterinarian Dr. Mark Steinebach was appalled at what was found. "They were living among their own feces and urine," Steinebach recalled. On Wednesday, senior animals protection officer Eileen Drever said Crown counsel had approved 13 new charges against each Armstrong and Raffles pertaining to allowing animals to be in distress-in addition to two charges for violating their court order. Thirteen dogs, mostly chihuahuas, were pulled from the home.