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OMHS rescues 28 dogs, 10 rabbits, 1 cat left outside in -20C by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, February 19, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Hours before the temperature dipped to -20C Friday night, 39 animals, some barely a week old, were found in an open field with nothing more than a bowl of frozen water. Acting on an anonymous tip about a neglected donkey in rural Milton, received the previous day, a warrant was issued to search a property near Trafalgar Road and Hwy. 401 Friday afternoon. Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) protective services manager Laura Mackasey, who is an Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) agent, a local veterinarian and Halton police discovered animals with inadequate shelter, no food and only frozen water in their bowls. Though no donkey was found, 28 dogs -- seven of them just eight to 10 days old -- 10 rabbits and a cat were removed. The OMHS is caring for the animals, plus seven new arrivals after a beagle gave birth to a litter of seven pups less than a day after being rescued. Three other pregnant beagles were also removed, one expected to give birth within the next 48 hours and two others in the next week. "I'm thankful we arrived when we did," said OMHS executive director Kim Millan. "The important thing is they have food, they have a warm place to sleep and they have fresh water." It took seven hours to remove the animals. Each was assessed by the veterinarian and those requiring medical attention were treated. Two One of 28 dogs rescued, pictured at left, is transported into care by Oakville and Milton Humane Society animal welfare officers. At right, a dog and her pup. The dogs, 10 rabbits and one cat were taken into care after being found outside without adequate shelter Friday in Milton. | photos courtesy Oakville and Milton Humane Society number the OMHS has in its care. Local vets are housing some who are receiving care. Luckily, Millan said the OMHS had adopted four dogs last week so shelter space had just opened. Still, situations such as this strain resources as the OMHS is a charity that relies on donations. "Any time you do a removal like this, it's costly," Millan said. "Not just to do the removal, but the aftercare, housing and feeding the animals and providing bedding and medical care." Mackasey is continuing the investigation, including whether there was a donkey on the property. Charges may be pending. "We would like to encourage the public to come forward with concerns about animal neglect," Mackasey said, "because in this case, 39 animals were saved from just one phone call about a neglected donkey." Millan said the animals were located well back from the road and it's unlikely they would have been discovered without the tip. dead animals, a cat and a dog, were also found. Many of the rabbits, housed inadequately for the cold weather, had lacerations and infections on their legs. One needed to have an eye removed. Several dogs had heartworm or poor dental health that prevented them from eating properly. After the on-scene assessment, the animals were either sent to veterinarians, who stayed open late to treat them, or were taken to the OMHS' Cornwall Road shelter. Despite the conditions they were found in, Millan said all the dogs are quite friendly. The rescued dogs more than double the Congratulations to the 2014 Nominees Oakville Awards FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville $125 per person. Tables of 8 available INJURED? I Can Help! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY My team of experienced lawyers can help you with: · Car accidents · Slip and Falls · Disability Claims (Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP) · Wrongful Dismissal OFFICES IN OAKVILLE AND TORONTO For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 or Toronto: 416.351.9222 email: sspadafora@slspc.ca 20th Annual Dinner Gala Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Presented by The Oakville Chamber of Commerce and The Rotary Club of Oakville West To purchase tickets visit www.oakvillechamber.com or email Carina@oakvillechamber.com (905) 845-6613 Because family matters Let us take care of you Oakview Funeral Home has been serving the Oakville community for over 30 years. We are proud community supporters and will assist your family in creating a highly personalized service to suit your taste and budget. Oakview Funeral Home serves one family at a time and offers competitive prices and superior service. Get your FREE Planning Kit! Call Dawn Spencer today: 905-842-2252 Look for us on Facebook Sam Spadafora Injury and Employment Law Visit www.oakviewfuneral.ca for a virtual tour of our funeral home. by Arbor Memorial 56 Lakeshore Road, W., Oakville Arbor Memorial Inc. Oakview Funeral Home Family Owned. Proudly Canadian.