HALIFAX—Almost three dozen dogs are now safe in the Nova Scotia SPCA’s care after they were delivered from “unsanitary” conditions in one of the largest puppy-mill seizures in the group’s history.

At 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, Nova Scotia SPCA animal protection officers executed a warrant alongside the RCMP at a puppy mill near Wolfville, seizing 29 dogs and six puppies. Shelter and veterinary staff were on hand to take charge of the animals, who have been taken to specialized SPCA intake facilities for medical treatment and shelter.

“It’s not very often that we see a large number of dogs seized from one location,” Jo-Anne Landsburg, Nova Scotia SPCA chief provincial inspector, said in an interview.

The group is made up of two dog breeds: border collies and Jack Russell terriers.

Landsburg said their attention was first called to the situation after a “Good Samaritan” visited the property and was so concerned with the unsanitary conditions that they alerted the SPCA this September.

Since then, the SPCA said they issued compliance orders for several “significant problems” around the psychological and physical state of the animals as well as their unsanitary living conditions, but Landsburg said they had not seen any progress “as of yet.”

In a release, the SPCA said animal protection officers also visited the property with an expert on animal psychology. With the evidence gathered, the SPCA was able to get a search warrant allowing them to enter the dwelling where many of the dogs were being kept. This intervention, combined with additional investigation findings, led to Tuesday’s seizure.

When asked about what the exact conditions were like for the dogs, Landsburg said she couldn’t go into more details yet beyond saying they were unsanitary.

Charges are pending, and the release said this is one of the largest puppy-mill seizures in the history of the Nova Scotia SPCA.

Veterinarians are assessing the dogs to see if any require urgent care, and a full report of their health needs will be released in the coming days.

“So far, everybody seems to be doing OK,” Landsburg said.

Providing for the medical treatment, shelter, care and food for 35 dogs will be a “significant expense” for the SPCA, the release said, since usually the charity would take in fewer than four dogs in one day.

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Those animal-lovers who want to help sponsor a dog or support the rehabilitation of the animals are invited to make a donation at canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/44936 or text “SPCA” to 4-10-10 to donate $20.

Landsburg said the SPCA isn’t looking for foster homes immediately, but there might be a need in the future, so those interested should contact their local shelter.

Also, since Landsburg said the situation is still in the early stages and the puppy-mill owner could appeal the seizure, there’s still a lot of time before the SPCA could have full custody of the dogs and open the group for public adoption.

Landsburg added if anyone has bought a collie or Jack Russell from the Wolfville area and has concerns and/or any information about animal cruelty, they can reach out the SPCA by visiting novascotiaspca.ca.

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