North Preston pit bull owner granted bail on cruelty charges

A 42-year-old man accused of assaulting Nova ScotiaSPCA officers in the process ofseizingtwo dozen pit bullsover the weekend has been released on bail following a court appearanceMonday.

Under the terms of his bail conditions, Warren Cain must not own any dogs, drink alcohol and must stay away from the twoSPCAofficers he's accused of assaulting.

Over the weekend,SPCA officers and the RCMP went to Cain's home and seized 25 pit bulls.Cain was not home when police arrived.TheSPCA says it was raining, cold and the dogs were wet.

"They were all in outdoors in closures, and they were not adequate under the Animal Protection Act," says JoanneLandsburg, chief inspector with the SPCA.

Confrontation

Under RCMP protection, fourSPCA officers started to collect the dogs 15 puppies and 10 adults.

Cain eventually came home and there was a confrontation. He's nowaccused oftwo counts of assaulting a peace officer, uttering threats, as well as animal crueltycharges.

Another man, 18-year-old Makell Cain, was arrested after his vehicle crashed into anSPCA van. He's facing charges of animal cruelty and assault with a weapon.

TheSPCA says they've been in contact with theCains about the dogs for weeks.

"We advised them several times and it wasn't until we found them in distress where it was raining and very cold and there was a lot of water in the kennels that we decided to seize them," Landsburg said.

Pitbulls on hoobly.com

WarrenCain had been breeding and selling his dogs online at classified site hoobly.com.

The 25 dogs are now in a secret location, but it's possible Caincould have them returned.If he wants them, he'll have to file an appeal within five days to the provincial Department of Agriculture.

"If they decide that they are not getting the dogs back then they will become the property of the SPCA," Landsburg says. "Until that time, they will remain in our custody."