NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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Late last week, officers from the Barrie Police Service entered into a lengthy investigation that was centred on a number of dogs that were in the care of two women.
Police were assisted by an inspector from the Ministry of the Solicitor General Animal Welfare Services, and it was determined that two women, aged 54 and 23 from the Sarnia area, were actually in possession of 14 dogs and one cat that were being kept in deplorable and unsanitary conditions.
The collaborative investigation that was undertaken by police and Animal Welfare Services focused on the health and well-being of the animals and that a number of them had been left unattended overnight in two unheated vehicles associated to the women.
On Saturday, three dogs and a cat were surrendered to officials from the Barrie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) who were also assisting and offered to take possession of all the remaining dogs so that they, too, could receive proper care.
As the investigation continued, one of the surrendered dogs, a German shepherd, who was visibly underfed, emaciated and very lethargic, required emergency surgery to remove a foreign body from its stomach. The dog survived the life-saving operation and is now recovering.
On Tuesday, Barrie police advised the public that the women had left Barrie and that their whereabouts was unknown. The investigating officer made significant efforts to locate them, but after those attempts failed, warrants of arrest were issued.
Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, the two women attended the Sarnia Police Service where they were arrested and each charged with causing unnecessary suffering and two counts of causing damage or injury, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. They were released a short time later and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie on March 22, 2023.
Barrie police wish to thank the Sarnia Police Service for their assistance in this investigation, the Barrie OSPCA, the Ministry of the Solicitor General Animal Welfare Services, our concerned community members, and it is hoped that the involved dogs, puppies, and cat find their furever homes.
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