Backyard breeder not responsible for parvo puppy but still working to ensure no issues follow

By JEREMY APPEL on August 8, 2019.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel

The owners of a property where at least one person bought a puppy with a potentially fatal virus are working with municipal enforcement to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

As the News reported last week, a woman who purchased a puppy from a backyard breeder in the Tower Estates area discovered her dog had parvovirus after taking the lethargic pet to the veterinarian. As a result, she launched a complaint with municipal enforcement.

However, bylaw enforcement and the Alberta SPCA agree “there is insufficient evidence” to prove the owners knowingly or purposely were selling severely sick puppies, which is the threshold for charges under provincial legislation.

“The only way a person can be found guilty of an offence under the Animal Protection Act is if the dogs required vet care at that time,” says bylaw Supt. Heather Trail.

“We can’t prove exactly when the dogs required vet care, because when we went to investigate, the dogs were gone.”

The breeder had nine puppies in their backyard, all of which were sold by the time bylaw investigated.

Trail says she’s been hearing conflicting accounts about how many, or if any, others were ill.

The breeder confirmed the puppies weren’t vaccinated, nor had they seen a vet, but Trail says “they did inform the people who bought the puppies of that before they left.”

The residents of the property in question insist there was no parvo in their home at the time the puppies were in their possession.

“Even though they don’t accept the fact that there was parvo in their home, they are still interested in ensuring that this never happens again,” said Trail.

The breeders have agreed not to sell puppies again, which Trail says was of their own volition.

The Alberta SPCA urged prospective pet owners to be cautious.

“The dog breeding industry is unregulated so there is no standard of care they must provide before selling their puppies,” their statement reads.

“Legally, breeders can be held accountable if they are denying animals vet care when they are sick or injured. So, if a dog has parvo, they have to seek medical care, but they do not have to provide vaccinations before selling the puppies”

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