Dufresne man fined for hoarding dozens of animals in ‘deplorable conditions’

A Dufresne man who hoarded dozens of animals, including nearly three dozen dogs, in “deplorable conditions” was handed a fine and animal ownership ban in a Steinbach courtroom on March 20.

Albert Tschritter, 39, plead guilty to violating Manitoba’s Animal Care Act. He was previously charged with four counts of the violation, but the three other charges were stayed. The violations don’t count as criminal charges.

“A number of animals ended up in rather deplorable conditions in a way that met the definition in the act of being deprived of adequate food and water so as to significantly impair their health and well being,” said Crown prosecutor Boyd McGill.

Provincial animal care officials received a call on June 1, 2023 about the well-being of dogs on a Dawson Road property, he told the court.

When inspectors arrived at the home, they found 35 dogs, 12 ducks, nine geese, four chickens, 15 rats, three rabbits, five guinea pigs and 12 pigeons. All animals were lacking medical care and were housed in unsanitary conditions without proper food or water. Tschritter told inspectors at the time that children were responsible for caring for the animals, McGill said.

He filed 19 photos taken by the inspectors as evidence. Roughly 20 ducklings and goslings were stored in a small box covered in feces with no food or water. Cages of rats full of urine-soaked wood shavings were also shown in the photos. Dogs, with fur matted with feces and infected ears and eyes, were locked in small kennels without bedding, food or water.

Neither Tschritter or co-accused Elizabeth Tschritter had a breeding licence. After the inspection, officials order Tschritter to improve the animal living conditions, but when they returned on June 12, there was no change and 12 dogs were seized, McGill said.

One month later, Tschritter was ordered that he could only own one dog and one snake for three years. But in September 2023, a warrant was issued and provincial officials and RCMP officers seized 24 dogs, one cat, three cockatiels and 30 chickens. One of the dogs named Iris and her four new born puppies were voluntarily surrendered to an animal protection officer and were euthanized. Officials found her starved, dehydrated and infected with parasites in her ears and internal organs.

McGill said its unclear why the accused had so many animals and if they were being raised for profit.

“The animals were feeling pain and suffering. Although they are property, they are not merely property, and they deserve protection under the criminal law,” he told the court.

“All animals that are not living in the wild, including companion animals, livestock and animals in industrial settings, are under the dominion of human caretakers, and they are therefore responsible for them.”

Tschritter represented himself in the case and opted against speaking in his defence during the sentencing.

Provincial court Judge Dave Mann called the case’s facts “very concerning” and said the accused was fortunate the offence wasn’t under the criminal code.

“I think a lot of us are pet owners in this world are just ashamed to see that sort of thing. The dogs are suffering, and the dogs were put down,” he said.

Mann followed the joint recommendation and sentenced Tschritter to a $298 fine and a three-year ban on owning any animals.