Protesters outside the Chatham-Kent Provincial Offences Courhouse, November 3, 2016 (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)Protesters outside the Chatham-Kent Provincial Offences Courhouse, November 3, 2016 (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Chatham

Intervenor Status Denied In Dog Euthanization Hearing

A court has decided that animal rights groups will not be allowed to intervene in a hearing involving 21 dogs that were seized from an alleged Tilbury dog-fighting ring.

On November 3,  Animal Justice and Dog Tales, two animal rights groups based out of the GTA, applied for intervenor status in an upcoming hearing that will address an Ontario SPCA application to euthanize 21 pit bull-type dogs. The animals were seized from the alleged dog-fighting ring in Tilbury back in October 2015.

However, the group Dog Tales received the court's decision on Monday, that all applications for intervenor status had been denied.

"We are surprised and devastated by this decision -- a decision which could mean the difference between life and death for these dogs," says Dog Tales in a statement on the group's Facebook page. "We are committed to doing whatever we can to help these dogs and prevent the euthanasia application from being successful, and we are currently exploring all possible alternative options. We will not give up on these dogs, and we do not believe that all hope is lost."

The OSPCA's euthanasia request comes after the American SPCA assessed the 21 dogs a few weeks after their seizure, and deemed them too aggressive for rehabilitation. Another 18 dogs that were seized were also assessed, but were considered fit for rehabilitation.

Four men currently face a long list of animal cruelty charges in connection with the alleged dog-fighting ring. Defence lawyers have stated that preliminary hearings into the criminal offences aren't expected to begin until December 2017, and a trial is not expected until 2018.

The euthanasia hearing will take place at the Chatham-Kent Provincial Offences Court on December 22.

-With files from Jake Kislinsky

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