FREDERICTON – The New Brunswick SPCA is calling for tougher animal protection laws after 143 creatures were seized Tuesday from “deplorable conditions” inside a Fredericton home.

Among the animals, which were found in the basement of the bungalow, were 53 cats, 21 dogs, 30 birds, several rodents and lizards and even six pot-bellied pigs — one of which weighed more than 200 pounds.

Hilary Howes, the New Brunswick SPCA Executive Director, said it appears to be a a case of hoarding, which is a growing problem and part of the reason her group is calling for stiffer animal protection laws in the province.

“Hoarding is such a new thing that there are really very little laws governing it anywhere,” he said.

April Saulnier, an animal rights advocate, agrees that the province needs tougher animal protection laws. She remembers the day Lulu, a Yorkshire Terrier mix, was seized by the SPCA from an animal hoarder about a month ago.

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“She was very dirty, [in] very messy conditions,” she said. “She had some eye infections, which she still has right now.”

She said the dog was pregnant at only a year old, so she took it in as a foster pet for the Moncton SPCA.

The New Brunswick SPCA recently presented a 30-page report to the Department of Environment and Local Government calling for improvements, especially concerning enforcement.

Howes said even if the SPCA suspects a case of hording or animal neglect, the agency cannot legally enter someone’s home and seize the animals without a search warrant. It also cannot require the owner to present the animal to show evidence of cruelty.

“We can request you to bring the animal to the door so we can see it, but you don’t have to comply.” he said, adding he would like to see that change.

The SPCA can file a search warrant request with the crown prosecutor, which it did do for the seizure in Fredericton on Tuesday, but Howes said it’s a drawn out procedure.

The organization wants more immediate authority to move in without a warrant. Howes said he also wants repeat offenders to get mandatory counselling before ever being allowed to own another pet.

Saulnier said the province should be doing more to force pet owners to provide a better environment for innocent animals like Lulu.

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“Unfortunately, [animal protection laws] are not strong enough. especially with the case of Lulu. The lady was allowed to have another dog and a cat, and the hoarding situation occurred again, so we wish it was a little bit stronger,” she said.