A court date has been set to address an application to euthanize 21 dogs from an alleged Tilbury dog fighting ring.
The OSPCA is applying for the right to euthanize the pit bulls, which were seized back in October 2015. The OSPCA has said their decision to file the application was made after the animals underwent behavioural assessments. The group says the dogs may pose a danger to community safety.
Dog Tails, a rescue facility that is currently fighting the application, says the individuals who have been charged in connection to the dog fighting ring have agreed to turn the dogs over to their facility permanently.
"As the owners of the dogs we will not allow any of our adopted dogs to be euthanized and we are asking for party status to make sure that doesn't happen," says Clare Forndran, a spokesperson for Dog Tails.
While court proceedings were underway, a crowd protesting the OSPCA application to euthanize the 21 dogs gathered outside.
Kathy Green from Oshawa is hoping the court agrees with letting the rescue group take them in.
"A lot of the rescue groups have been trying to work with the OSPCA right from the beginning back in October," she says. "I think it is great that the owners are willing to relinquish custody so that a third party assessment can come in."
For their part, the defendants are asking the courts to unseal the search warrants that were used to justify police raiding the property.
All of these matters will be back in court on Friday, March 18.
