Former Okotoks pet store owner charged

The owner of a shuttered Okotoks pet store is now facing animal abuse charges.

An SPCA investigation led to two charges being laid against Ty Marshall, the owner of Animal House, which closed in February.

Marshall is charged with causing or allowing animals to be in distress and failing to provide the proper care for sick or injured animals. He appeared in Lethbridge Court Monday on the charges.

The Okotoks Animal House was the target of protests and vandalism over claims the puppies being sold in the store came from puppy mills.

In the months after the store closed the SPCA began an investigation into the welfare of animals at Marshall’s Milo area property.

On April 24 131 dogs, 62 rabbits, eight cats and three tortoises were seized. Four dogs had parvovirus and two had to be put down. Some animals that were not ill or in distress were left at the property.

The Calgary Humane Society, took in some of the dogs, including the ones with parvovirus and had to temporarily close down for a couple days while they disinfected their facility. The Alberta Animal Rescue Society (AARCS) took in the rest of the animals.

Tracey Mahdi is a member of the Calgary group Albertans Against Puppy Mills that organized the protests outside Marshall’s Okotoks store.

“I’m not surprised,” she said. “I was very pleased they went forward with charges.”

Mahdi said she and others filed complaints against Marshall with the SPCA.

She said (group name) received messages from Okotokians who had bought sick animals from Animal House and others who said there were as many as 50 dogs in the store for sale at times.

“Where can you get your hands on this many puppies?” she said.

She was at Marshall’s court appearance Monday.

“I hope his chance to have a future licence is revoked to have a breeding facility,” Mahdi said.

The maximum punishment for the charges is $20,000 and the court can order a ban on owning animals.

She was also at a hearing last week when Marshall filed to open a breeding facility with 200 dogs at his Milo property.

Vulcan County council denied the application.

“There is no reason someone wants a breeding facility that large, except for making money,” Mahdi said. “I’m proud of (Vulcan County council) for recognizing they could make a difference.”

SPCA spokesperson Roland Lines said some of the animals left by the SPCA at the property are now gone.

“His inventory seemed to have changed,” Lines said.

The animals seized by the SPCA are still in the custody of the rescue society and the Calgary Humane Society. Marshall has hired a civil lawyer, blocking the organizations from finding new homes for the animals, Lines said.

“Mr. Marshall started civil proceedings against us,” Lines said.

The parties are currently working on finding a resolution for where the seized animals will live, Lines added.

“An independent vet came and did an assessment on June 14,” Lines said. “We have a report and its being resolved right now. Its being worked out now between the legal teams.”

One of the statutes of seized animals being returned to their owners is that they must pay for the animals’ care.

Lines said so far it has cost more than $300,000 to care for Marshall’s animals. The SPCA has been paying for the medical and shelter costs for the animals from their reserve funds.

Ty Marshall did not return phone calls from the Western Wheel by deadline.