OSPCA Senior Inspector Jennifer Bluhm. May 18, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)OSPCA Senior Inspector Jennifer Bluhm. May 18, 2016. (Photo by Matt Weverink)
Chatham

OSPCA: 'Guarded' Prognosis For Seized Pit Bulls

OSPCA officials are happy to see several pit bulls get a second shot at life, but they're still not certain the dogs will be able to be re-trained properly.

That's the word from OSPCA deputy chief Jennifer Bluhm after dozens of dogs, which were seized from an alleged dog-fighting ring in the Tilbury-area in October 2015, were ordered by a Chatham court to be sent to facilities in the USA for rehabilitation.

"I certainly think the prognosis is still very guarded for these dogs," says Bluhm. "While they have been in our custody, they have shown a wide range of behaviours from extremely aggressive to unpredictable."

Eighteen of the dogs that will be headed to Dogs Playing For Life in Florida are among the original 21 that were previously deemed too aggressive for rehabilitation by the American SPCA.

The OSPCA has been caring for the dogs at a secure location since they were seized in October 2015. The organization also applied to have the 21 dogs euthanized following an initial assessment from the ASPCA.

At that point, two animal rights groups, Animal Justice and Dog Tales, applied for intervenor status, but they were later denied by a justice of the peace.

The court case over control of the animals came to a close on Thursday, July 20, when a judge approved a joint submission by the Crown and the defence for the dogs to be officially transferred to the care of the OSPCA on the condition that the dogs then be sent to Dogs Playing For Life in Florida.

Only 18 of the 21 dogs will be making the trip, though.

A second assessment of the dogs, which was carried out recently, determined that one of the canines was still "dangerous" and the court ordered it to be put down.

Two other dogs died while in the custody of the OSPCA over the past two years as a result of what Bluhm says was "a direct result of the horrific abuse they suffered as part of a dog-fighting operation."

Bluhm says the second assessment was carried out more than 18 months after the dogs were first seized and believes the care that the OSPCA provided for the dogs during that time is a factor in why many of them they were no longer deemed too dangerous for rehabilitation.

"Over the last two years our staff has provided daily care and human interaction and enrichment to these dogs -- they have basically cared for them as if they were their own pets," says Bluhm. "I think we're seeing the results of that in the slight improvement that was witnessed in these assessments."

In addition to the 18 dogs that will be heading to Dogs Playing For Life, 18 more pit bull-type dogs will be transferred to facilities south of the border, for a total of 36.

Bluhm says 11 of those dogs are puppies that were born in the custody of the OSPCA. The final seven dogs that will be heading to the USA were previously surrendered to the care of the OSPCA. Those additional 18 dogs will be split between two facilities --Dogs Playing For Life and Pit Sisters, which are both located in Florida.

The court case for the accused in the dog-fighting investigation is still proceeding before the courts. It is set to resurface in criminal court with a preliminary hearing on August 15 and in the Provincial Offences Court on August 24.

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