A dog breeder says the Calgary Humane Society went too far when its officials seized dozens of dogs from a home in Acadia last week.

Zip, a saluki owned by Lynn Knapp, was in Beverly Creed's Calgary house when humane society officials seized dozens of dogs they believed to be suffering neglect last week. (Lynn Knapp)

Investigators say the animals had been left in unsanitary, cramped conditions and that charges under the Animal Protection Act will likely be laid against dog breeder Beverly Creed, the owner of the home.

But Lynn Knapp, a friend of Creed and fellow breeder who owns one of the dogs seized from the southeast Calgary home, says officials overreacted.

"There was absolutely no need to bust into that house and make this into a circus,” she said. “Bev had been there that morning. They could've waited and got a hold of Bev."

Knapp breeds dogs at her home in Wilbur, Wash., and sometimes sends them to other breeders, including Creed, for training, she said.

In last week’s incident, one of them — a saluki named Zip — was seized, along with two miniature pinschers she co-owns with Creed.

Dogs weren't suffering, claims friend

According to Knapp, Creed has been going through a difficult time, but the dogs weren't suffering, she said.

"Oftentimes when people have depression issues, they turn to the one thing that makes them happy. In Bev's case it was dogs,” she said.

But Calgary Humane Society spokesperson Christy Thompson said the dogs were seized with good reason. She declined to give details, but said they were in poor medical condition.

Knapp says she is now trying to get her dog back. But all the dogs are under observation for a 10-day period as part of its investigation, according to the society.

"Our priority right now is the ongoing investigation, as well as the animals' health. And when we do come to a point where we're able to look at the ownership part of this investigation, each dog will be looked at individually,” Thompson said.

So far no charges have been laid.