'Blatantly obvious' animals were suffering: Charges laid against Edmonton dog breeders

Warnings of an unscrupulous bulldog breeder in Edmonton had been circulating among animal lovers on social media for weeks.

They were worried a man was selling too many dogs and that puppies in poor condition were being delivered to buyers.

But without a complaint from someone who had seen the dogs firsthand, the Edmonton Humane Society says it can't investigate.

Eventually, some of those animal lovers stepped forward to report an address, a name, and firsthand observations of Ivy's Bullies.

That led to a formal investigation. Animal Protection Act charges have now been laid against Justin Iverson and Christine Archambault of Edmonton.

"We had a few people who were frustrated because they saw the ads on social media but they didn't actually know who was posting them," said Peace Officer B. Grey of the Edmonton Humane Society.

"If I don't know where someone is, I can't act on that.

"We need someone who has seen something, purchased an animal from a breeder, who went to the home, saw all of those red flags the humane society talks about all the time." 

Dogs seized from Edmonton home

8 years ago

Duration 0:28

Jenna Rice submitted this video of dogs being seized by the Edmonton Humane Society.

Grey described it as "blatantly obvious" the animals were suffering. The dogs were crowded in a poorly ventilated space, walking in their own urine and feces, she said. Some of the animals had urine burns on their feet.

Dozens of dogs were removed last week from the home, located in a quiet residential neighbourhood. The animals are now in the care of the Edmonton Humane Society.

Dog had to be put down

Lacey Oikle said she purchased an English bulldog from Iverson last month. The dog had to be euthanized a few days after it was delivered to her home in Lloydminster.

"As soon as I saw it in the kennel, it was peeing and using the washroom all over the place. That concerned me," she said. "He said, 'He just travelled and he's probably under stress.' I took their word for it."

It was the weekend and Oikle couldn't get the dog she named Chumlee to her veterinarian until Monday. When she brought the dog in, she was told he was suffering a terrible infection from a botched tail-docking procedure.

"When the vet came to get me, she told me his spine was infected, he was neglected ... that he wasn't a healthy dog, he was too far gone."

Oikle described the decision to euthanize the dog as "the hardest thing" she had ever done in her life.

"I took his word that I paid for a healthy puppy," Oikle said. "It just breaks my heart and I just wish I could have helped my dog."

Breeders not regulated

Iverson and Archambault have been charged with eight counts each under the Animal Protection Act.

The charges include causing or permitting an animal to be in distress, failure to provide adequate food and water, failure to provide adequate care when wounded or ill, and failure to provide adequate shelter, ventilation and space.

In addition, Iverson has been charged under the Criminal Code with two counts of wilfully causing the suffering of an animal.  

Shelter officials said the case is a reminder to always do your research before purchasing a dog from a breeder, to ensure they are responsibly caring for their animals.

There is no registration process for breeders in Alberta.

"We see a lot of irresponsible breeders on a regular basis," Grey said. "You're turning around an animal as a purebred when you've adopted it from the shelter, when you don't have papers. It's really frustrating and I can feel the frustration for pet owners." 

She suggests buyers should view the home where the animals are being raised, observe the living conditions, and see the blood line the dogs are coming from. Otherwise, don't buy the dog, she said.

"It just increases their profits and allows them to continue to do what they're doing."