Under the Alberta Animal Protection Act, Lethbridge Police have seized a total of 20 animals in distress over the past week, as part of three separate, unrelated cruelty investigations.
The animals are currently in the care of Community Animal Services.
On Sept. 2, Community Animal Services requested police assistance in relation to a report of a dog observed in distress at a southside home.
The dog, which was found to be extremely emaciated, did not have access to food or water and had sores and an open wound on its body and was subsequently seized and transported to a local veterinarian for treatment. Following further investigation, the owners of the dog were criminally charged.
John Joseph Rosenberg, 39, and Atia Leslie Fleming, 45, of Lethbridge, are charged with allegedly causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Both were released with conditions not to possess or care for any domestic animal and are scheduled to appear in court Oct. 28.
On Sept. 4, Community Animal Services requested police assistance after multiple animals were found in distress during a property inspection, also in south Lethbridge.
In total, police seized four puppies, three adult dogs and four cats, along with a lizard, mouse and fish. The animals were not being properly cared for and conditions inside the residence made it unfit for habitation, resulting in a closure order that required two tenants – a 23-year-old female and 22-year-old male – to vacate the property. The investigation is ongoing.
On Sept. 8, police responded to a report of an unattended vehicle in the alley along Leaside Avenue with numerous cats inside. Additional cats were also observed around the property. Five cats were seized from the vehicle.
The 55-year-old owner of the vehicle was identified and issued five bylaw tickets for failing to provide basic animal care. The bylaw violations carry a specified penalty of $300 per ticket. The identity of the male is not a matter of public record and cannot be released.
Due to the seizure of animals in the three ongoing investigations, the Lethbridge Animal Shelter is full and facing significant space challenges.
With the intake of the 20 animals seized over the past week, eight of the dogs are still at the shelter and can’t legally be adopted or released at this time.
According to the City of Lethbridge, the shelter is getting more calls than usual about stray dogs. “To make sure the dogs already in the shelter continue to get proper care, the shelter has decided to temporarily stop accepting new dogs.”
If someone finds a stray dog or needs help, they’re encouraged to contact the shelter for advice. Adoptions of other shelter pets continues, as normal.
“The animal shelter does not require any additional donations related to the recent animal seizures,” the City adds.
