Woman who fled when charged with animal cruelty arrested and back in Lethbridge court
By None on January 25, 2019.
Tim Kalinowski Lethbridge Heraldtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com Wanted fugitive April Dawn Irving hid her face behind a white piece of paper as she appeared by closed-circuit TV Wednesday from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre. After nearly three years on the run, Irving, 59, who was reported to have fled to Jamaica in 2016, was finally apprehended by police in Manitoba earlier this week. She made her first appearance in court since her arrest after being returned to Lethbridge to stand trial. The former Milk River resident is still facing animal cruelty and neglect charges dating back to January 2015 when she had over 200 dogs taken from her property. Many of the dogs were reported by officials as emaciated, dirty, dehydrated and suffering from various medical and behavioural ailments, and were found under trailers, in outbuildings and outside where they were exposed to cold weather. Irving’s case made national headlines after the details of the dogs’ condition were released. Protesters condemning her alleged actions gathered outside the courtroom for some of her earliest appearances. Irving at the time said she had received death threats on social media. Irving later made a passionate plea to have them returned and was denied. She was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment instead. Irving went to one session, and then never returned to court. An arrest warrant was issued for her in February 2016. Her lawyer, Greg White, withdrew from the case in July 2016 after repeated attempts to get in touch with her failed, saying at the time, “Miss Irving has disappeared, like smoke.” Irving’s picture was circulated on social media in a concerted attempt by animal rights groups to help police find her. Police said they believed she was still in the country, but some reports had her living under an assumed name in Jamaica. This was not Irving’s first brush with the law and accusations of animal abuse and neglect. Irving was convicted in 2010 of neglect when 82 dogs were seized from her property in Foam Lake, Sask. She also had several dogs seized in 2007 in Fort McMurray. On Wednesday, Irving’s appearance in provincial court was brief. She faces new charges in relation to her flight from authorities and failure to appear in court. She requested through duty counsel her case be adjourned to Jan. 30 while she seeks help from legal aid. 12-11
