Nearly 100 animal welfare charges laid after dog deaths in Hamilton

A woman is facing nearly 100 charges in the deaths of five dogs and the distress of two dozen other canines at a Hamilton boarding service.

Ontario’s solicitor general says 96 charges have been laid against the Hamilton woman under the province’s animal welfare legislation.

The province says the charges stem from concerns about the care provided at a dog-boarding business.

It says five dogs died and 24 others were in distress.

Owner Jenuen Monroe said she was “devastated” after boarding her two dogs at Kippen Cares and returned to find Cartelo, her American Pocket Bully, in a body bag in the freezer.

A second dog owner, Cassandra Almeida, started a GoFundMe after Sammy, her Samoyed/Malamute cross (who was rescued from a meat market in China in 2022) was also found dead at the same facility.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath weighed in saying she was “deeply disturbed” about the allegations and offered her condolences to the owners of the dogs.

Horwath noted the responsibility is in the hands of the Province and PAWS, however, but did say the City will be issuing penalties to the kennel for operating the business in a “non-permitted capacity.”

The solicitor general says Jessica Kippen has been charged with 24 counts each of four offences related to standards of care, exposure to undue risk of distress, causing distress, and permitting distress

The charges were laid on Nov. 15 and the accused is set to appear in provincial offences court in Hamilton on Jan. 15.

“Cruelty to any animal is not tolerated in Ontario,” the province said in a release.

Anyone with information about an animal in distress or animal abuse can call 1-833-9-ANIMAL to report.

– With files from Glenn Hendry