4°c Partly cloudy
14°c Mainly cloudy
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Locals knew about abuse for years
Swan River residents question late arrest
Swan River residents say they complained for years about animal abuse at a farm. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
Residents of the Rural Municipality of Swan River are struggling to understand why dozens of complaints alleging animal abuse at an apparent puppy mill went unanswered until Wednesday, when authorities raided the property and seized 27 dogs, 15 horses and two donkeys.
What officials found in a barn was shocking, according to local animal welfare advocates: dogs that had been chained for so long their flesh had grown over the chains. All of the animals were emaciated, some reduced to eating their own feces for sustenance. Horses and donkeys had hooves so badly overgrown that they turned upwards.
A 68-year-old man was arrested and faces animal cruelty charges.
The question for many Swan River residents is why the seizure took so long. For years, residents were aware of allegations of abuse at the property, said one resident who claims he spent "thousands of hours" documenting activities there.
"There have been hundreds and hundreds of calls to the local RCMP, to the local veterinarian, and all these calls have gone unanswered," Barry Yellowega said.
Neighbours believe the suspect was breeding German shepherds and selling them for hundreds of dollars each. Most of the animals seized were juveniles more than six months old, and one female was pregnant.
Yellowega said he made his first complaint to the provincial vet in November 2008. Other Swan River residents confirmed abuse was suspected -- and frequently reported -- by many people in the community about 180 kilometres northwest of Dauphin.
"Every second person I talk to put in a report, or knows someone who did," said Maggie Romak, the president of the Swan Valley Animal Protection League, which is leading efforts to foster the dogs.
Some residents were told the Manitoba government was looking into the complaints.
Yellowega is calling for an investigation into the number of complaints made to authorities over the last decade. "Too many people are pissed off. Everything needs to be brought out."
A recent change of circumstance around the property allowed the seizure of dogs by animal-control officers.
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 4, 2010 A8
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Police cadets to deal with drunks
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Union Station to receive $6.5-million makeover
- Kelvin project lesson in sacrifice
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Severe storm warning issued
- A SHED is not enough
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Dr. Seuss banned from B.C. classroom
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- His life made our world a better place
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Cummings steps out of reunion for sick mom
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Kelvin project lesson in sacrifice
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Weeding out the chemicals
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Osborne Village voted Canada's best neighbourhood
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.