Re:Anna Young-Neighbours in Beaches dogfight

Depending on who you talk to, Anna Young is either an admirable do-gooder who selflessly nurses abandoned German Shepherds back to health for adoption or a neighbourhood nuisance whose treatment of her animals borders on cruelty.

Ms. Young single-handedly runs the Toronto German Shepherd Rescue from her home in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood. In the past two years, she has been in an escalating spat with her next-door neighbours about conditions at her house.  The fight has involved heated arguments in the street, visits to court and, most recently, the confiscation of seven dogs from Ms. Young's home earlier this week by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  "Our veterinarian, who was on the premises, determined that the conditions of the house and the means that the individual had available were inadequate to properly provide the necessary conditions for 11 dogs," said Jim Pollock, the OSPCA's director of communications. Mr. Pollack said the dogs were deemed to be "ravenous and thin in nature" and are now being assessed by the OSPCA veterinarian.

Ms. Young owns three of the remaining four dogs, and she maintains the whole purpose of her work is to nurse the abandoned German shepherds back to health.  "The dogs come here in horrific shape," she said. "They were on their way to recovery, but some of them were still thin. They were not mangy or infested with fleas. They were all looked after by vets."

The City of Toronto's Animal Care Code limits the number of animals a person may keep to six in total, with no more that three being dogs. Ms. Young is aware of the by-law, but argues it is nonsensical.  "Many years ago, I was charged with having too many dogs," she said. "We went to court and I was prepared to challenge that on constitutional grounds, on how they can possibly tell me how many dogs I can have in my house. If I'm allowed to walk 10 dogs in a street or a public place, what's so different about taking care of these dogs in my house?" Ms. Young said.  The city backed away from the court case.  According to Ms. Young and her supporters, the removal of the dogs is another attack in an ongoing battle against her.

"This is a dispute between neighbours that's gone out of control," she said.  "I'm up to my neck in the charges, the by-law infractions, the property standards, anything they can get."

Cathy Watt is Ms. Young's next-door neighbour and she maintains the
conditions in Ms. Young's house are a blight on the neighbourhood.
"It's unbelievable, the smell coming from the house. It's just deplorable," Ms. Watt said. "My neighbour and I have actually been dealing with the city since last September. At that time, we had been kept up all night long by dogs in kennels in the back. We were going after her for noise violation, and we had been in court with her in February about this and the city fined her $5,000 for the violation. The next day, everything was the same again."

Ms. Young promotes her non-profit business on her Web site, and has appeared on local television shows promoting her work. She generally charges people who want to adopt her dogs $250, although she says she makes ends meet through fundraising.  Helen Bukowski, a former neighbour of Ms. Young's who recently adopted one of her rescued dogs, says the spat stems from neighbours with a grudge rather than any real problems.  "I honestly don't know anyone who takes better care or cares more about their dogs than she does," Ms Bukowski said. "I live very close to where Anna lives now, and if the dogs bark when I arrive they stop barking very shortly afterwards. She's very clean when it comes to her dogs and I personally have never had any trouble going to her home. I'm amazed at the level these neighbours are going to make life difficult for Anna. Based on what I know, that's what I believe is happening."

Ms. Watt said the upkeep of the home makes it a health hazard.
"Apparently, it's a matchbox inside," Ms. Watt said. "There's old papers stacked up to the ceiling in every room. It's just deplorable conditions.  One of the policemen came up after he'd been in there for a half an hour and he threw up on the street." Ms. Young admits she could be a better housekeeper, but insists the conditions are not hazardous to the dogs or her neighbours. "Is the house cluttered? Yes it is. Is the house dusty? Yes it is. Does that affect the welfare of the animals? In my view, it does not," she said. "All the dogs that are mine were in excellent health, and I was allowed to keep them." 

Ms. Young said she has no plans to move or shut down her rescue operation, and is considering legal action against her neighbours. She is scheduled to be in court today regarding an alleged by-law infraction relating to the appearance of her house.
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