LOKI – HIS BEGINNINGS

July 23, 2011 by Zephr

LOKI – HIS BEGINNINGS

Loki caged on Hobson property prior to May 29 2010 raid and seizure

Loki’s amazing journey began at a very early age. His was not a good start in life. His actual date of birth is unknown, however what is known is just how he spent at least the first year of his life…..caged, with others of his kind.

The first pictures taken of him with other pups in his cage were taken in 2009, at that time there were approximately 4 other pups (white) in the cage with him. They were very young. Pictures taken in Spring of 2010 a month before the raid, show Loki with only a couple of the white pups that had been with him in 2009.

All pictures were provided to both the Town Mayor and to RCMP around May 25, 2010, which in turn prompted the raid on the Hobson property, on May 29, 2010. Note that the identities of those who took the pictures and who provided the individuals who then submitted the pictures to the authorities is protected by Law.

23 pups ranging in age from 2 months old to yearlings, were seized, removed from that property and taken to the Municipally owned shelter, where the SPCA volunteers spent many hours bathing these terrified pups. Covered in filth, scared and traumatized.

During the raid, three dogs were immediately euthanized for humane reasons.The pups remained under the care of the SPCA volunteers for a period of 2 ½ months, receiving de-worming medication, fresh food and water on a daily basis.

Volunteers worked in shifts, ensuring that the pens were spotless and that these young victims were cared for. It did not take the volunteers long to reach the point of exhaustion.

Without anywhere to move the remaining 83 dogs, the decision was made to leave these animals on that property, remaining under the care of their owner..however the Mayor did state that this care was to be supervised and monitored by someone employed by the Town. All 83 dogs plus the 23 pups became ‘wards’ of the Town of Hay River.

Within weeks of the pups seizure and rescue, assistance to relocate the 23 out of the N.W.T. was made, in the form of written hand delivered letters directed to the Town Mayor. Unfortunately these offers of assistance were totally ignored. Thus sealing the fate of the 23 pups at the shelter.

Thankfully, Loki, escaped the Municipal shelter, therefore he survived.In mid August , SPCA volunteers were asked to leave the Municipally owned shelter property, the remaining 22 pups were removed and destroyed by persons yet to be identified, by order of Town Officials. Just how these pups were destroyed remains a total mystery as Town authorities continue to refuse to provide details. It must be noted that this removal and destruction of the 22 pups was done secretly and it was only by chance that it was learned via a tip from another town resident that they had disappeared.

Once confirming from a Town employee that indeed the pups were dead, CFAWR, Canadians for Animal Welfare Reform, a B.C. based animals rights/welfare group were notified and they issued numerous letters and Press Releases directed to the Town Mayor and Officials. On August 30, 2010 the Deputy Mayor of Hay River issued a release stating the pups had been destroyed.

Had not so much pressure been put upon Town Officials, via the press releases and letters which were issued concerning this incident, one can only speculate as to whether any statement about the removal and destruction of the pups would have been forthcoming at all.

Any and all information relating to the remaining 83 dogs left on that property has not been forthcoming, despite written requests from the Animal Alliance of Canada. The Animal Alliance of Canada submitted one letter in October 2010 and another in the Spring of 2011. CFAWR as well has made inquiries to no avail.

It remains unknown just how many more pups have been born on that property since the raid took place on May 29, 2010. It remains unknown as to the condition and status of these animals. It remains unknown as to what supervision and monitoring of their care is actually taking place. It remains unknown as to whether or not a veterinarian has been in attendance to any of the remaining animals on that property since last May.

Linda Hobson is due back in court September 2011 to face her charges and await the Judge’s decision. One can only hold their breath until that time. It has been over a year since the raid was conducted.

Will she be convicted as charged? If so, will the sentencing be lenient? Will she be allowed to continue owning animals? What determination and decision will be made in respect to the remaining dogs left on her property all of this time or for any additional pups born on that property over the last 15 months?

Will the unnecessary deaths of the 22 pups seized, sheltered and cared for 2.5 months at the Municipally owned shelter by caring volunteers, be in vain. Will these innocent victims who lost their lives or the remaining dogs on that property see Justice?

Will LOKI see Justice?

Will our journey together continue or will he continue to be stalked, eventually caught and likely shot? A most common practice in the NWT.

Our fate together will remain unknown, what time we share now together is a precious gift and God willing our journey will be allowed to continue.

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The following links relate to the media coverage on this case:

RCMP charge N.W.T. woman allegedly hoarding 109 dogs

Edmonton Journal / 1st Jun 2010

http://gleekifi.com/gossip/NWT-woman-charged-after-109-dogs-found-in-home-2627652.html

N.W.T. woman charged after 109 dogs found in home

Vancouver Sun / 2nd Jun 2010

Over 100 dogs found neglected in HR, woman charged : June 2, 2010

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/10/06/2/Over-100-dogs-found-neglected-in-HR-woman-charged

Woman charged after 109 dogs found in home : Thursday, June 3, 2010

http://animalhoardinginfo.blogspot.com/2010/06/woman-charged-after-109-dogs-found-in.html

Neglected dogs under care of SPCA : June 4, 2010

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/10/06/4/Neglected-dogs-under-care-of-SPCA

Lack of resources forced town to euthanize puppies — SPCA : September 8, 2010

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/10/09/8/Lack-of-resources-forced-town-to-euthanize-puppies-SPCA

Hub was wrong to euthanize 23 dogs – animal welfare group

http://www.mix100.ca/newsDetails.php?newsID=1412&pageID=116&parentID=108

Posted on: September 10, 2010

Town finds itself under attack after destroying 23 dogs

KRISTEN CAMPBELL reporter@hayriverhub.com

Hay River Hub: WEDNESDAY, September 8, 2010 ● 37th Year No. 29

What happened to the rest of the dogs? – animal welfare group on Hay River hoarding case

September 21, 2010

http://hqyellowknife.com/news/local/news/Local/10/09/21/What-happened-to-the-rest-of-the-dogs-animal-welfare-group-on-Hay-River-hoarding-case

What happened to the rest of the dogs? – animal welfare group on Hay River hoarding case

September 21, 2010

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/10/09/21/What-happened-to-the-rest-of-the-dogs-animal-welfare-group-on-Hay-River-hoarding-case

Hobson to enter plea on November 24 : Sep 29th, 2010

http://www.hayriverhub.com/2010/09/hobson-to-enter-plea-on-november-24/

HR accused dog abuser faces more charges : December 3, 2010

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/10/12/3/HR-accused-dog-abuser-faces-more-charges

Woman pleads not guilty to dog neglect : January 20, 2011

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/11/01/20/Woman-pleads-not-guilty-to-dog-neglect

Not guilty plea in dog hoarding case

http://www.nnsl.com/northern-news-services/stories/papers/jan24_11nwteds.html

A Hay River woman has pleaded not guilty to animal abuse charges. Linda Hobson, 67, entered the pleas during a brief appearance in Hay River territorial court on Jan. 19.

Trial date set in animal cruelty case : March 4, 2011

http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/11/03/4/Trial-date-set-in-animal-cruelty-case

Additional Links found on Internet reporting this case:

dog posts – Animal Hoarding News & Info | Dog Time – Dog Blog Network

http://celebrifi.com/gossip/RCMP-charge-NWT-woman-allegedly-hoarding-109-dogs-2627655.html

http://celebrifi.com/gossip/The-Getaway-2606449.html

RCMP charge N.W.T. woman allegedly hoarding 109 dogs

ANIMAL HOARDING

Animal Hoarding is recognized as an illness, akin to OCD. A great deal of research has been done on this illness and the consequences and suffering inflicted upon the animals involved.

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association:

“Typically, an animal hoarder is someone who accumulates a large number of animals that overwhelms the person’s ability to provide even minimal standards of care and who fails to acknowledge the deteriorating conditions of the animals and the environment as well as the negative effects on the health and well-being of the hoarder and other household members. Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium: www.tufts.edu/vet/cfa/hoarding . Last consulted March 9, 2005.”

Described by PETA as follows: http://www.peta.org/issues/Companion-Animals/animal-hoarders-the-illness-and-the-crime.aspx

“Animal hoarders—once described as “collectors” whose good intentions had gone awry—are now recognized as individuals whose mental illness or compulsion can cause criminal behavior with horrific consequences for animals, the hoarders’ families, and their communities.”

http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/animal_cruelty.php

According to HARC: Animal Hoarding 2.htm

“How is animal hoarding defined?
“The pathological accumuation of animals was first described in [1981] and animal hoarding was formally defined in the public health literature in [1999] using the following criteria:

Having more than the typical number of companion animals
Failing to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter, and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in illness and death from starvation, spread of infectious disease, and untreated injury or medical condition
Denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household, and human occupants of the dwelling
Persistence, despite this failure, in accumulating and controlling animals “

“…..psychologists are currently considering whether hoarding should be a separate disorder in DSM-V “

“A recent (June 2010) in-depth review by eminent psychologists explains the differences between OCD and hoarding, and suggests there is sufficient evidence for creation of a new disorder, provisionally called hoarding disorder, in DSM-V.”