Look how cute the Maltese are
Stinky pups liberated
SPCA REMOVES 21 DOGS FROM FILTHY KINGSTON RD. STRIP MALL
By MIKE STROBEL
OUT THEY come, into the cool, clean air. Puppies by the armload. "SMEL-ly puppy," says Ontario SPCA Insp. Ana Costa, to the hairball she cradles.
A chihuahua, a dachshund, two Boston terriers and two "Shih Tzu type" pups have already left, to the vet.
They are worst off. Diarrhea and gawd knows what else.
Another 16 pups are bound for the SPCA's Newmarket shelter. Hot bath, nail clip, vet check, spay/neuter and eventual adoption.
The birds in those cages in that sty of a back room?
Naji Majdalani has 'til noon today to find them a new home.
Meanwhile, the city has cited him for operating without a pet store licence.
The "Lucky Pets" man is outta luck.
I wrote about this little corner of puppy heck yesterday.
Animal-lover/reader Audrey Henry and I went there as buyers.
Majdalani (aka "John") directed us by cell to meet his dad, Raja.
SCORES OF COMPLAINTS
Naji Majdalani once operated Lucky Pets, in Pickering. Councillor Bill McLean got scores of complaints about sick animals bought at Lucky Pets.
He paid a visit. "It was enough to make you puke," he tells me.
So he championed a new pet store bylaw for his suburban city. Majdalani, professing all was well, moved on.
The new "shop" is (was) deep in a strip mall, Kingston Rd. at Poplar. It is un-marked, its windows covered.
We sidestepped dog crap and tried not to breathe as Raja quoted such prices as $600 for puppies he said were pugs. (Boston terriers, says Ana Costa).
Cash, said Raja. No tax.
My tape recorder got it all, amid the yowls of smelly pups.
Majdalani later flat-out denied he was selling dogs.
Just to be sure, a sign appeared on the door.
ATTENTION. WE ARE NOT SELLING DOGS.
That made me howl. Not everyone laughed.
Yesterday morning, mall tenants see Majdalani reading the Sun in his van. He drives off, looking unhappy.
TO THE RESCUE
Then the cavalry rides in.
The SPCA leads the charge: Ana, inspector Sarah Jones and agent Linda Goczan. Later, reinforcements: Insp. Doug Rombough from the rural beat, splendid in bullet-proof vest.
We're joined by three city licence and standards officers.
They flash badges and all converge on Raja, who talks heatedly to his son by cell.
For an hour, the law pokes and prods.
The licence guys hand Raja a ticket. It is the minimum, $190. I suppose it is better than nothing. You need harder evidence of dog-selling. I have offered my tape.
The sun vanishes. Snow pelts the strip mall.
"We've had enough," Sarah Jones tells me. The SPCA has been here 21 times since last March, taking 18 dogs and 12 birds.
This time, they tell Majdalani he has 'til 4 p.m. to clean up, or turn over the animals.
Nothing happens, so at 4:05, the parade of puppies begins.
They are adorable. But, phew. Even the local garage mechanics recoil.
Finally, Majdalani squeals up in his van. He agrees to surrender the puppies for good.
He even pays part of the SPCA's $65 per animal fee.
He will not, however, give me his two cents' worth.
"I'm so thrilled," says Audrey, when I call. "I can't believe it happened so fast. I thought it would be a real struggle."
Well, it helps to have an Audrey on the case. And publicity never hurts.
But our laws are not on the side of those puppies.
"We're frustrated," says SPCA chief Insp. Mike Draper. "The public expectation is much greater than what the legislation gives us the authority to do.
"A health unit can placard your store and say you cannot operate until you meet the standards. We should be able to do the same with pet stores."
And here's a scary thought. Many municipalities do not even have pet shop laws.
Bill McLean has sent copies of Pickering's new bylaw to other councils. Guys like Majdalani "go from A to B. He makes a very good living selling those poor puppies."
Not the ones from Kingston Rd. Not anymore.
But, best be on the lookout for the "Lucky Pets" man.
