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VIDEO: B.C. SPCA back at Langley property where 80 animals were seized

SPCA confirm they are in the middle of a warrant at a 216 Street property where more than 80 animals were seized last September.
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BC SPCA has returned to a rental property on 216 Street in Langley



The BC SPCA have removed 17 animals from a rental property on 216 Street in Langley.

It is the same property from which 88 animals were removed, including several farm animals, last September.

Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA confirmed that the animal welfare organization seized 17 animals from the property on Monday afternoon.

"We seized one mom Ridgeback and her 10 puppies. The mom was suffering from untreated mastitis. We seized a greyhound with an untreated skin condition, four cats found living in inadequate ventilation and a rabbit with a broken leg," Moriarty told the Times.

"To be honest, this case is heart-wrenching and makes my blood boil."

Sandra Simans (pictured below), who had been running a non-profit, animal rescue organization called 1atatime Rescue Society out of the home, said the 17 animals that were removed from the property had been well cared for.

Simans shifted blame directly onto the SPCA for targeting her unfairly.

“They’re picking pepper out of fly s**t, I kid you not,” Simans said.

Simans said she is an ovarian cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2005, and is trying to give back by caring for animals.

“Now I’m portrayed as a monster,” she said. “I’ve gone from a cancer survivor who has set out to do something good to a monster.”

She said one of the dogs that was seized, a three-year-old greyhound named Hadley, “is the only reason I get up in the morning.”

During the animal seizure, Simans’ friend Carolyn Hemphill was at the property to provide support.

“She has conformed to all the conditions thy have set upon her,” Hemphill said, noting that the SPCA lost a 2014 defamation case against Simans.

“She cries for the babies she has lost. She is being harassed senselessly and she has a heart of gold. If people looked after their animals the way she did, the world would be a far better place.”

Last September, when 88 animals were seized from the property.

At that time, 45 dogs, 18 cats and 24 farm animals were seized by SPCA constables. Three of the animals seized were later euthanized.

The SPCA has recommended charges to Crown counsel for approval, but nothing has happened yet, said Moriarty.

"If the charges were approved, we could ban her from owning animals and we find bans are very effective," she said.

The animals from the September seizure have not been returned to Simans. In December 2106, a ruling by the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board ordered Simans to pay $81,000, to cover the SPCA's costs to care for the 88 animals

In 2012, 52 dogs and 19 cats were removed from Simans’ care. In that case, some of the animals were returned to her.

– with files from Troy Landreville

 



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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