Ontario heartworm epidemic linked to thousands of imported dogs

Jillian Donaghey, a transport driver for Boudreux’s Animal Rescue Krewe estimates between 2,500 to 3,000 Louisiana dogs so far have made the 24 hour trip across the border. Marketed as “death row pooches” or “Katrina Dogs”, the puppies, hot off the transport, are often sold within hours. Some at impromptu “adoptathons” staged in parking lots.

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The August 1, 2006 Proposed Amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations Part XII Transportation of Animals authored by the Ontario SPCA, the BC SPCA and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and Dr. Terry Whiting among others states: “The act of transporting animals creates a high risk both for animal suffering and for susceptibility to and transfer of disease.” Dr. Randy Stirling of Hamilton's Briarwood Animal Hospital comments: A “danger of this parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes is that wildlife is vulnerable, especially foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons: Once heartworm disease infects wildlife, a permanent source of infection becomes established” “some Louisiana dogs have been sent to Calgary and the state of Washington – ...they have had an outbreak of diseases common in the south but until now unknown in the north.” The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association website states: “a private laboratory that conducts heartworm tests for Ontario veterinarians reported 676 heartworm positive pets in 2008, up 280% from 2005.” “Many of the “hurricane rescue dogs” were imported only having had one negative heartworm test.” \From the Toronto Sun: “importing Louisiana dogs has become a fixture with humane societies in Southern Ontario.” “Last year, some 600 dogs from Louisiana reached the Hamilton SPCA, most under eight months old.” “The puppies, billed as being "rescued," were sold for adoption by the Hamilton SPCA for $470. each. “Michael O’Sullivan, chairman and CEO of the Humane Society of Canada, says he’s visited the Hamilton SPCA “and I’ve seen these dogs in cages piled on top of one another, waiting to be sold.” The Ontario SPCA behaves like a puppy mill; overcrowding, stacked crates, hoarding and warehousing animals, inadequate shelter, poor quality of life, inadequate ventilation, socialization, neglect, lack of proper care, brokering large cross border animal shipments, engaging in questionable long distance transport practices, allegedly profiting from the sale of imported, diseased animals. Where was the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Health of Animals Act? Clearly the Ontario SPCA cannot be permitted to operate without independent oversight. Their actions have placed pets and wildlife in Ontario at risk for years to come. Perhaps most importantly, those entrusted with enforcing animal welfare should not engage in the very activities they purport to abhor. The Ontario SPCA is dysfunctional and hypocritical. “Without publicity and high profile charges, the funds the (Ontario) S.P.C.A. needs to operate would no doubt dry up.” Justice Anton Zuraw, R. v. Pauliuk, 2005 ONCJ 119