Milk River dogs almost all adopted a year after seizure of 201 neglected pets

A year after 201 neglected dogs were seized from a rural property near Milk River, Alta., nearly all of them will be spending Christmas in new, forever homes.

In total, just four of theanimals are still up for adoption through various shelters, said Deanna Thompson, executive director of the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS).

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Sixty of the dogs were kept byAARCS, itself, and 59 of thosesurvived the ordeal.

One had to be put down due to a brain injury, Thompson said, but the rest have made remarkable recoveries.

"It's beenan amazing year with these dogs," shesaid.

In addition tomalnutritionand a lack of grooming,severaldogshadto be treated for major injuries like broken bones.

"It did take time, of course, emotionally for these dogs to get over their pasts and learn what it's like to be a real family pet," Thompson said.

All but two of the dogs kept byAARCShave so far been adopted, and an adoption application is pending for one of them, named Frills.

That leaves just Hamilton, a large Komondor-cross, up for adoption.

"We know there's a home out there for him, somewhere," Thompson said.

More information about Hamilton and other pets up for adoptioncan be found through the AARCS website.

April Dawn Irving wascharged with one count of animal crueltyin the death of five dogs who were discovered at the time of the seizure. Sheis due back in Lethbridgecourt inJanuary.