The City of Airdrie has confirmed that no more animals remain at the EJ Rescue Foundation's facility in the city's Northeast. On Tuesday, Airdrie RCMP confirmed that Municipal Enforcement attended the business once again.
City officials would not confirm earlier reports of the exact number of animals that were seized yesterday.
"All animals that were in the facility were transferred to safe care," a city spokesperson wrote in an email to DiscoverAirdrie. "The business has not been “shut down”."
Despite comments on social media advising those who are fostering dogs through the rescue foundation, that they should contact the City for assistance with veterinary care or other concerns, City officials clarified that this is not accurate.
"If they have a foster dog and need vet care or other assistance, they should try to contact EJ Rescue," The city said.
When City officials were asked what the conditions inside the facility were, alluding to earlier reports of residents complaining of pungent smells of urine and feces, officials said that because an investigation is ongoing such details are not something they could comment on.
When asked for a statement on the developments, The Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that they would defer to the City of Airdrie for further comment.
Last week, on Tuesday, December 5, the SPCA confirmed that Alberta SPCA officers along with Airdrie Municipal Enforcement and RCMP attended a local business in Airdrie and seized several dogs that are now in the care of the Alberta SPCA. At the time, officials did not name the business, though RCMP later confirmed that the seizure took place at the EJ Rescue Foundation.
The SPCA would not comment on the number of dogs seized or the health conditions the animals were found in, in the initial seizure, later only adding that SPCA officers seize animals when they are considered to be in distress as defined by province's the Animal Protection Act.
According to the provincial Animal Protection Act, distress is defined as an animal that is deprived of adequate shelter, ventilation, space, food, water or veterinary care or reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold; an animal that is injured, sick, in pain or suffering, or abused or subjected to undue hardship, privation or neglect.
Police also confirmed that during the seizure last week, two individuals were arrested for obstructing peace officers.
According to its social media page, EJ Rescue Foundation labels itself as a, '...not for profit animal rescue committed to doing our best to give dogs in need a better life."
Despite the SPCA's initial dog seizure last week, the rescue foundation's social media page continued to post photos and descriptions of dogs that were either available for fostering or adoption - including on December 5 when the SPCA seized dogs from the business, with the last post on Saturday, December 9.
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