Calgary

Dog breeding application rejected by Vulcan County for man facing SPCA charges

A dog breeder who is fighting charges that he allowed animals to be in distress has been denied an application by Vulcan County for a permit to set up a new dog breeding and sales operation in the southern Alberta community.

Tyler Marshall's 131 dogs, 62 rabbits, 8 cats and 3 tortoises were seized in April

In April, 131 dogs were seized from a property in Vulcan County because of unsanitary conditions and health problems. (Kris Ketonen/CBC)

A dog breeder who is fighting charges that he allowed animals to be in distress has been denied an application by Vulcan County for a permit to set up a new dog breeding and sales operation in the southern Alberta community.

In April, 131 dogs, 62 rabbits, eight cats and three tortoises were seized by the Alberta SPCA from Tyler Marshall's property in the village of Milo in Vulcan County.

He was charged under the Animal Protection Act with allowing animals to be in distress and failing to provide them with proper care.

The charges have not been proven and he is set appear in a Lethbridge court on June 26.

Marshall later applied for a permit to establish a dog breeding and sales operation called Marshall Kennel. At a meeting on Wednesday, county council unanimously rejected Marshall's request, the Calgary Humane Society tweeted.

Marshall is also the former owner of Animal House pet shop in Okotoks. He said he was forced to shut down after becoming the unfair target of animal rights protesters who vandalized his store in January. They claimed he was running a puppy mill.   

Tyler Marshall owned the Animal House pet shop in Okotoks, which was vandalized in January. (RCMP)

The April seizure of the animals in Milo came after a complaint from someone who had purchased an animal from Marshall. The SPCA followed up and found animals in distress on the property.

In a statement, Ty Marshall said he's been trying to resolve the issues with the SPCA and abide by the Animal Protection Act.