Digby puppy brokers charged with neglect

A couple from Digby County, N.S., have been charged a second time over the alleged sale of sick puppies.

Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey are accused of selling four puppies that were infected with parvovirus, a highly contagious virus that destroys the lining of a puppy's intestinal tract.

All four animals died within hours or days of delivery last year, said Sean Kelly, spokesman for the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"The parvovirus is an incredibly disgusting disease where the animals have incredible diarrhea," said Kelly. "They're vomiting. It's easy to tell they're in distress."

"Getting the parvovirus is not neglectful. Not treating the parvovirus is neglectful," he said.

Benoit and Bailey face criminal and provincial charges of neglecting animals.

They went on trial last fall for allegedly selling sick and malnourished puppies in 2007. A judgment in that case is due at the end of the month.