Police seized 49 dogs from an animal rescue nonprofit in Beekmantown on Monday following a search of the property. According to officials, members of the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at A Canine Gem on Ashley Road and seized dozens of dogs from the location.Police were assisted by a veterinarian and a veterinarian technician, as well as New York State Environmental Conservation Police, several members of the SPCA and local animal control. Clinton County Sheriff Dave Favro expressed dismay at the conditions found within the facility, stating, “Pets are supposed to bring pleasure and joy to all of us and to have them just boxed up and caged up like that and be treated that way is just unacceptable.”All of the dogs are being housed by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department after the seizure.Sheriff Favro emphasized that having the dogs at the jail is the best option at this time, ensuring that there are people present around the clock in a heated facility without incurring additional costs for the county.Watch: See a replay of the media availability hereIn a Tuesday morning news conference, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said that as of now, the operator of A Canine Gem, Hillary Davis, is facing at least 70 charges that have yet to be filed, including violations for the conditions of the facility and for the health of the dogs in her care.Davis is currently not in police custody, according to Favro.Favro said that some of the dogs were unable to stand due to lack of proper care. Many of the cages were on bare concrete floors, with some of the animals having issues with their paws.”Malnutrition was one of the biggest concerns,” Favro said on Tuesday.NBC5 had a reporter on scene at A Canine Gem on Monday morning, where police told us that they were executing a search warrant for allegations of animal cruelty. Officials said they had received multiple complaints over the past several months about animals at the facility, which has been in operation in Beekmantown for over a year. Investigators said they believe Davis is the same person who has run similar rescue operations in Vermont.”To have these animals boxed up and caged up and treated this way is just unacceptable,” Favro said.A spokesperson from the Elmore SPCA said that all of the animals are currently being assessed by veterinarian technicians and members of the Elmore SPCA. None of the animals are available for adoption or fostering at this time as they are being considered evidence in the ongoing investigation.Rebecca Moss-Patnode, executive director of Elmore SPCA, expressed hope in finding loving homes for the dogs at some point, stating, “We’re hoping to work with other organizations if they’re able to take them. But we will make sure they all get in the loving homes they deserve.”The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department allowed NBC5 inside the facility where the dogs are being kept but we were not allowed to broadcast the location.NBC5 reached out to Hillary Davis for comment on the investigation, but she declined to provide a statement. Authorities in Clinton County have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Police seized 49 dogs from an animal rescue nonprofit in Beekmantown on Monday following a search of the property.
According to officials, members of the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at A Canine Gem on Ashley Road and seized dozens of dogs from the location.
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Police were assisted by a veterinarian and a veterinarian technician, as well as New York State Environmental Conservation Police, several members of the SPCA and local animal control.
Clinton County Sheriff Dave Favro expressed dismay at the conditions found within the facility, stating, “Pets are supposed to bring pleasure and joy to all of us and to have them just boxed up and caged up like that and be treated that way is just unacceptable.”
All of the dogs are being housed by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department after the seizure.
Sheriff Favro emphasized that having the dogs at the jail is the best option at this time, ensuring that there are people present around the clock in a heated facility without incurring additional costs for the county.
Watch: See a replay of the media availability here
In a Tuesday morning news conference, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said that as of now, the operator of A Canine Gem, Hillary Davis, is facing at least 70 charges that have yet to be filed, including violations for the conditions of the facility and for the health of the dogs in her care.
Davis is currently not in police custody, according to Favro.
Favro said that some of the dogs were unable to stand due to lack of proper care. Many of the cages were on bare concrete floors, with some of the animals having issues with their paws.
“Malnutrition was one of the biggest concerns,” Favro said on Tuesday.
NBC5 had a reporter on scene at A Canine Gem on Monday morning, where police told us that they were executing a search warrant for allegations of animal cruelty.
Officials said they had received multiple complaints over the past several months about animals at the facility, which has been in operation in Beekmantown for over a year.
Investigators said they believe Davis is the same person who has run similar rescue operations in Vermont.
“To have these animals boxed up and caged up and treated this way is just unacceptable,” Favro said.
A spokesperson from the Elmore SPCA said that all of the animals are currently being assessed by veterinarian technicians and members of the Elmore SPCA. None of the animals are available for adoption or fostering at this time as they are being considered evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Rebecca Moss-Patnode, executive director of Elmore SPCA, expressed hope in finding loving homes for the dogs at some point, stating, “We’re hoping to work with other organizations if they’re able to take them. But we will make sure they all get in the loving homes they deserve.”
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department allowed NBC5 inside the facility where the dogs are being kept but we were not allowed to broadcast the location.
NBC5 reached out to Hillary Davis for comment on the investigation, but she declined to provide a statement. Authorities in Clinton County have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
