Foul odour, barking for years at home of Winnipeg dog seizure: neighbours

Neighbours living near a Valley Gardens home where several dogs were seized Tuesday say they noticed foul odours coming from the home for years, along with dogs barking and crying.

"I was actually very surprised and I was honestly pretty sad about it," said Josue Medina, 14, who lives a few doors down from the home. "Because how can someone do that to a bunch of dogs that have done nothing to deserve that?"

"Like, living in that kind of condition just makes you really sad," Medina said.

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Wednesday, Manitoba's office of the chief veterinarian said animal protection officers with the Winnipeg Humane Society removed a dead puppy from the house and rescued four adult dogs.

Those numbers, however, vary with information obtained by CBC News.

A local dog rescue director said five dead puppies were discovered and 10 to 15 other dogs found alive suffering from various degrees of illness.

Dr. Colleen Marion, a vet with the province'soffice of the chief veterinarian says sheis investigating that claim and admitsother animals were taken into care by other people prior to the arrival ofanimal protection officers.

Medina said he and his mother witnessed officials remove roughly 12 dogs in crates from the home.

The home belonged to a director of a Winnipeg dog rescue group and the dogs were in the care of this group.

The woman's son said Wednesday she is currently in hospital.

Officials were largely tight-lipped about the condition of the rescued dogs.

"The animals are currently in good spirits, but due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further details about their physical condition," said Marion.

Photos of the inside of the house obtained by CBC News show several dogs and cages in unsanitary conditions, and at least one dog with multiple sores on its face and paws.

Another neighbour said she'd complained to the City of Winnipeg for two years due to the smell of the home but said the city didn't respond.

A city spokesperson said an Animal Services Agency officer did go to the home in response to a call about too many animals being there.

The officer issued a ticket and called in a complaint to the provincial vet's office, according to the spokesperson.