Ontario/Lion among 18 animals seized from putrid house

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Lion among 18 animals seized from putrid house
OMAR EL AKKAD

In one of the most bizarre cases of animal abuse in Ontario, 18 animals -- including a lion -- were removed from horrific living conditions at a property in Adelaide Metcalfe Township, just west of London, on Wednesday.

The Ontario branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was notified by Ontario Provincial Police late Tuesday night about the situation. SPCA investigators obtained a warrant to search the home and arrived there the next afternoon.

Ontario SPCA senior inspector Darren Grandel said the first thing that struck animal-welfare investigators was the overwhelming stench of animal waste.

"There were free-roaming dogs; there were dogs confined to a kennel in their own feces," Mr. Grandel said. "There were six overflowing litter boxes."

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Investigators removed eight dogs, six cats, two cockatoos and a turtle and sent them for medical attention. The most exotic find was an emaciated lion, confined to a tiny pen built into the side of a wall.

The lion has been transported to an animal-care facility and is doing well, Mr. Grandel said.

Many of the animals were thin and needed medical attention, he said. Two cats had to be euthanized. The other animals are being cared for by the London Humane Society.

The SPCA is also issuing orders to improve the living conditions of the other animals on the property, including wolves, coyotes, wolf-dog hybrids, chickens, geese, ducks, a horse, a raccoon and a donkey.

Starvation was the main health issue for many of the animals.

An investigation has been launched but no charges have been laid in the case. The owner of the house was not present when the search warrant was executed and SPCA investigators still want to speak with him.

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