WESTVILLE - Janice Bingley contends she did nothing wrong, her dogs were never abused or in danger in her home.
But the 22 dogs aren't home, they were seized by Nova Scotia SPCA special constables on Oct. 19.
"It's been hard, we're still missing them," Bingley said on Tuesday.
"The kids are still asking when they're coming home."
Bingley said there's no charges that are valid in her case and she has nothing to hide. She has gone public with her case because she feels that she has been convicted in the court of public opinion.
"I've been publicly judged. By public opinion I'm guilty of something but yet nobody questions the SPCA. There was not even a reason stated on the warrant."
Bingley moved into her Westville home in early August and said she never received any complaints from neighbours about her dogs.
"The neighbours here are quite friendly…They (the SPCA) say there was a complaint. I don't know where they came from."
Bingley said she feels the seizure is related in some way to her advertising great Dane pups for sale online. She said she posted the ad and then was banned about a week later from that website. She said a few days after that the SPCA arrived at her door.
Bingley released to the media all documents that she has related to the case including the warrant, letters, records from her vet and email correspondence.
She said the SPCA case is groundless.
"There is no charge, I can recite to you with my eyes closed the animal cruelty act. There's no charge."
But she does want to be charged, she wants to have her day in court.
"The way that it stands right now, if I'm not charged I have no defence. I don't care what they charge me for, put me in front of a judge."
She now faces a bill for $15,768.78 from the SPCA for expenses related to the seizure and care of the dogs. A letter from the SPCA said if she does not pay the bill in full, or make necessary arrangements for payment, by Dec. 18, then the dogs will become property of the SPCA.
She said there's no way she can pay such a large bill so quickly.
"They're going to say I made no attempt to pay it…The 18th will come and go, they'll own our dogs."
Provincial SPCA says it is considering charges
The provincial office of the SPCA said charges may be laid in Janice Bingley's case.
"It's an ongoing investigation," Nova Scotia SPCA executive director Kristin Williams said from Halifax on Tuesday afternoon. "I can tell you we are considering charges."
Williams said it is too early at this point to say what charges could be laid.
"It's difficult to say, there are a number of factors, including co-ordination with local police and getting reports together. It will likely be a couple of weeks or in that time frame."
Williams said the dogs - adults and puppies, some great Danes and other breeds - remain under control of the SPCA.
"The animals remain within our care…They're currently in what we call foster care… It's a way to care for the animals in a home environment."
