Barrie police say two Sarnia area women wanted in connection with an animal neglect investigation have turned themselves in.
The Barrie Police Service issued a warrant for the arrest of a mother and daughter Tuesday after being called to investigate a dog and cat being kept in two unattended, unheated parked vehicles at a hotel in the city late last week.
In an update Thursday, Barrie police said the women attended the Sarnia Police Service Wednesday morning.
"They were arrested and each charged with causing unnecessary suffering and two counts of causing damage or injury, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada," Communications Coordinator Peter Leon wrote in a media release. "They were released a short time later and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie on March 22."
Barrie police said it was determined the women, aged 54 and 23, were actually in possession of 14 dogs and one cat, and that the animals were being kept in deplorable and unsanitary conditions.
Barrie Police thanked Sarnia police, Barrie OSPCA, the Ministry of the Solicitor General Animal Welfare Services and the concerned community members for their assistance in the investigation.
"It is hoped that the involved dogs, puppies, and the cat find their furever homes," Leon said.