North Preston pit bull owner granted bail on cruelty charges
Warren Cain accused of assaulting SPCA officers trying to seize 25 dogs
A 42-year-old man accused of assaulting Nova Scotia SPCA officers in the process of seizing two dozen pit bulls over the weekend has been released on bail following a court appearance Monday.
Under the terms of his bail conditions, Warren Cain must not own any dogs, drink alcohol and must stay away from the two SPCA officers he's accused of assaulting.
Over the weekend, SPCA officers and the RCMP went to Cain's home and seized 25 pit bulls. Cain was not home when police arrived. The SPCA says it was raining, cold and the dogs were wet.
"They were all in outdoors in closures, and they were not adequate under the Animal Protection Act," says Joanne Landsburg, chief inspector with the SPCA.
Confrontation
Under RCMP protection, four SPCA officers started to collect the dogs — 15 puppies and 10 adults.
Cain eventually came home and there was a confrontation. He's now accused of two counts of assaulting a peace officer, uttering threats, as well as animal cruelty charges.
Another man, 18-year-old Makell Cain, was arrested after his vehicle crashed into an SPCA van. He's facing charges of animal cruelty and assault with a weapon.
The SPCA says they've been in contact with the Cains about the dogs for weeks.
"We advised them several times and it wasn't until we found them in distress where it was raining and very cold and there was a lot of water in the kennels that we decided to seize them," Landsburg said.
Pit bulls on hoobly.com
Warren Cain had been breeding and selling his dogs online at classified site hoobly.com.
The 25 dogs are now in a secret location, but it's possible Cain could have them returned. If he wants them, he'll have to file an appeal within five days to the provincial Department of Agriculture.
"If they decide that they are not getting the dogs back then they will become the property of the SPCA," Landsburg says. "Until that time, they will remain in our custody."