WINNIPEG – Sam Pshyshlak shudders when she relates what she says were appalling scenes and stench as she helped the Humane Society and a provincial veterinarian haul away 129 dogs from a puppy mill near Steinbach recently.
Puppy mills are loosely defined as commercial operations with more than five different breeds of dogs and usually poor living conditions “where the main motive is producing as many puppies as quickly as possible,” said Vicki Burns, executive director of the Winnipeg Humane Society.
Burns and Pshyshlak, a member of the Puppies Are Worth Saving volunteer group, said the Steinbach farm was the worst operation they’ve ever seen. They allege:
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- There was no water or food set out for the dogs, other than frozen and decomposing pig carcasses.
- Dogs were covered in feces and urine because cages hadn’t been cleaned.
- Dogs were overcrowded. Some were overexposed to cold.
- Some dogs have intestinal diseases; most have worms, skin conditions and ear infections. One had a leg that was dislocated or broken.
Charges pending
Burns visited Walter Hiebert, the owner of the operation, the day before she made the seizures.
“There was a dead puppy in one of the kennels. We asked if he would pull it out for us. He did, and said something to the effect of, ‘This is sad, but it happens sometimes,’ then threw it in his wood fireplace in front of us.
“That’s not illegal, but it’s just such a message about how he thinks about the animals: so disposable,” Burns said.
Hiebert, who is expected to face charges of cruelty to animals once the condition of each dog is documented, did not want to comment.
“I couldn’t say anything right now that would make sense to anybody,” Hiebert said. “The media has taken care of that.”
Burns said the Humane Society has placed the dogs with reputable breeders, at vet clinics or in their shelter pending charges against Hiebert.
She said the society has been overwhelmed with calls from people offering to adopt the dogs, but she said they have to wait until the investigation is over.
