Calgary woman fined for re

Credits: SCREENSHOT

KEVIN MARTIN | QMI AGENCY

CALGARY - A Calgary woman has been fined $7,000 after selling free pups who were mistreated under her care.

The fine was handed down to Ashley Nalan Onen on Thursday by provincial court Judge Peter Barley.

Onen, 36, earlier pleaded guilty to a charge under the Animal Protection Act of causing distress to six dogs, including two emaciated pups she sold after the owner gave them to her.

According to a statement of agreed facts, Onen received the two Bichon/Shih Tzu dogs, named Andy and Angus, from owner Linda Renfrew on Oct. 30, 2010 after replying to an ad posted on Kijiji.

Renfrew wanted to give the nine-month-old puppies to a good home after she decided she could not adequately care for them.

In January, 2011, Onen posted an ad on Kijiji under the name Linda McKenzie offering to sell a five-month-old Yorkshire Terrier/Bichon cross named S'Mores for $400.

She received enquires from two different women and arranged to meet them to sell the dog at different locations in the Crowfoot shopping complex on Feb. 4, 2011.

Onen then sold Angus to Linda Thompson under the name S'Mores and then later Andy under the same name to Arlene Green.

Thompson, worried about the dog's poor condition, took Angus to the Calgary Humane Society where it was determined he was severely emaciated.

A vet found the dog 'was malnourished or perhaps starved for the entire duration of his three months with the accused,' the agreed facts stated.

Green noticed her new pet appeared emaciated and lethargic, but after a few days of being properly fed and cared for he began to gain weight and energy.

It was only when she saw a humane society press release about the sale of Angus at the Crowfoot shopping centre did she report what happened.

When police went to Onen's Ranchland's home they found four other small breed dogs in distress along with four large dogs which appeared healthy.

All the injured dogs have since fully recovered.

Along with the fine, Onen has been prohibited from owning any animals for the next 10 years with the exception of the four healthy dogs found in her home.