Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Northern couple told to pay $104,000 to get dogs back

Update: Saturday, September 12 at 6 :14 p.m. NORTH BAY - Dogs removed from the Laika Fund for Street Dogs rescue remains in the care of the North Bay Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA says OSPCA Chief Inspector Connie Mallory.
Jeff Turl
Jeff Turl

Update: Saturday, September 12 at 6 :14 p.m.

NORTH BAY - Dogs removed from the Laika Fund for Street Dogs rescue remains in the care of the North Bay Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA says OSPCA Chief Inspector Connie Mallory.
 
"Each and every dog ... is receiving excellent care and attention, as required under the Standards of Care of the Ontario SPCA Act," Mallory said in an emailed letter. "Once the Ashworth’s appealed the Removal Order, the Ontario SPCA could not, and did not seek to, transfer ownership of any of the dogs."
 
Mallory also said the Animal Care Review Board (ACRB) requested an up to date accounting of costs to board and provide medical care for the 71 dogs removed from the Ashworth's rescue operation.
 
"These needs are currently being paid for by the Society," Mallory said. "The information provided at the request of the ACRB regarding costs of care, was not to be interpreted as a 'statement of account' for the Ashworth's."
 
Rebecca Ashworth provided BayToday with a copy of the document they received and it is titled 'Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Statement of Account'.
 
The document includes an outline of costs such as $35,312 for veterinary costs and $69,434 for boarding costs, for a total of $$104,746.
 
It also stipulates that a boarding cost of $25 per dog per day will be added to that cost for as long as the dogs are boarded with the North Bay Humane Society.
 
Original story: Friday, September 11:17 at 9 a.m.

NORTH BAY - In a shocking move, the Ontario Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals (OSPCA) is demanding that the owners of the Laika Fund for Street Dogs, Rebecca and Randy Ashworth, pay $104,746.66 within five days or lose the 70 dogs seized last month.

The demand comes in the middle of an appeal by the Ashworths to the Animal Care Review Board (ACRB) into the seizure of 71 dogs from the dog rescue farm in Trout Creek.

The board hears appeals from individuals whose animals have been seized or who have been issued orders by the OSPCA.

All of the dogs are being held by the OSPCA at locations unknown to the Ashworths or their lawyer.

Wednesday, the Ashworths received a registered letter from OSPCA stating, "The OSPCA may dispose of the animals without further notice if these costs are not met within 5 business days from the date of this notice."

"I'm in a panic," Rebecca Ashworth told BayToday.

"I want some confirmation they still have the dogs. I don't trust them at all."

"According to their paperwork the dogs can be disposed of however they see fit in five days."

This despite the fact hearings by the ACRB are still ongoing.

"The case is not even settled yet. How can this be? It doesn't give me much faith in any kind of process. It's already beyond unfair, it's another bit of proof that they can do whatever they want and absolutely nobody can go against them."

The Review Board hearing is set to resume October 5.

Previous Village Media coverage of this story:

Local OSPCA seizes 71 dogs, then demands $65,000 to return them

OSPCA kills seized dog without owner's knowledge.

(PHOTO: Randy and Rebecca Ashworth run a pet rescue farm in Trout Creek. Jeff Turl/Village Media)

 

Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
Read more