A Sept. 26 trial date has been scheduled for Kurtis Leo Gordon Elliot, who will appear in Clearwater provincial court facing charges of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal and failure to provide the necessities of life to an animal.
ON Jan. 11, 2023 BC SPCA animal protection officers removed seven 10-week-old puppies and eight Cane Corso dogs under the age of three years from the North Thompson property where Elliot resided.
At the time, Eileen Drever — senior officer of protection and stakeholder relations for the BC SPCA — spoke with the Clearwater Times. “The condition of these animals was just horrific — many of them were extremely emaciated," she said. "It was one of the worst cases I have seen in my 42 years with the BC SPCA.”
The BC SPCA noted that Elliot was breeding and selling puppies for profit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two more emaciated adult dogs on the property had been surrendered into BC SPCA custody the day before the seizure.
Following the seizure by BC SPCA officials, Elliot admitted to the Clearwater Times that he was "remorseful," saying “I feel disgusted in myself letting it go this long.” He admitted that when the market for puppies fell off he had been left with more bills for dog food than he could manage. He said he was feeding the dogs, but that it wasn’t enough for all the animals.
The dogs were taken into care by the BC SPCA and provided with medical and emotional support to aid in their healing from the trauma they had experienced.
The Times has reached out to the BC SPCA for an update on the animals and where they are now.
