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The Nova Scotia SPCA is encouraging its supporters to attend a hearing after the owner of a puppy mill appealed the seizure of 35 dogs from a facility near Wolfville earlier this month.

The organization is asking supporters to attend the public appeal board meeting at 9:30 a.m., on Dec. 30 at The Future Inns at 30 Fairfax Dr. in Halifax.

The SPCA seized 29 dogs and six puppies from the puppy mill on Dec. 10.

“This is one of the largest puppy mill seizures in the history of the Nova Scotia SPCA,” the shelter stated in a media release at the time.

The organization’s enforcement branch had reportedly been investigating the case since September 2019. It began in response to a report of mistreatment made by visitors to the puppy mill.

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The SPCA issued compliance orders for several significant problems regarding the psychological and physical state of the animals and their unsanitary living conditions.

Animal protection officers subsequently visited the mill with an expert on animal psychology.

With the evidence gathered, the Nova Scotia SPCA was able to obtain a search warrant allowing it to enter the dwelling where many of the dogs were being kept.

It was then able to seize the animals.

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Following the seizure the SPCA described the dogs as being “severely traumatized.”

A Halifax veterinarian also said the dogs would likely need exceptional care for the remainder of their lives because they’d been kept from the outside world.

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The SPCA says that at the hearing the public appeal board will receive evidence in the form of written and oral testimony.

Criminal charges, which the SPCA has said are being considered, are able to proceed regardless of the appeal board ruling.

“With your support, we can fight for justice,” the SPCA said in a tweet announcing the appeal.

With files from Aya Al-Hakim and The Canadian Press